Grand gymnastics event opens in Baku
By Amina Nazarli T
he next grand sporting event distinguished by a dynamic and graceful movements -FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics is opening in Azerbaijan.
To be taken place in the country’s capital Baku on July 22-24, the competition which is unmatched for its elegant, expressive and precise movements will be another biggest gymnastics event to be staged in the capital city after two major world cups on Trampolining and Artistic Gymnastics.
That will gift the sports lovers a unique opportunity to see the performances of eminent gymnasts from 21 countries of the world two weeks prior to the year’s main event -- Rio Olympic Games.
As many as 31 graceful gymnasts and 12 teams in group exercises will compete for the medals in the All-around within the first two days of competitions. Apparatus Finals will be held on the events’ last day.
Following the successful organization of nine stages of the World Cup this year, FIG plans to organize a special awarding ceremony in Baku’s final for the gymnasts and groups taken the first places according to the best four results shown at previous Series.
Fans of Rhythmic Gymnastics will have a chance to enjoy a magnificent Opening Ceremony on July 22, directed by the Head Coach of the National Team Mariana Vasileva, as well as traditional Gala on July 24, where the young national gymnasts will perform along with famous athletes.
The national team, which shine brighter at the international arena year by year, this time will comprise Marina Durunda, the First European Games’ silver medalist, the European Championships’ bronze medalist, participant of the Rio-2016 Olympic Games, Zhala Piriyeva, the European Championships’ silver and bronze medalist, and team in group exercises, Siyana Vasileva, Ayshan Bayramova, Aleksandra Platonova, Diana Doman and Elif Zeynep Celep - the European Championships’ silver medalists.
Tickets for events can be purchased at the ticket office of the National Gymnastics Arena, as well as at Bazarstore supermarket (Khatai, "28 Mall"). Ticket prices range from 5 to 20 manats ($3-$12). A discount is available when tickets are purchased for all three days of competitions. Moreover, students can benefit from special discount.
Azerbaijan, where the gymnastics is growing with fantastic rate in recent years, has already become home for many significant international tournaments.
Over the past few years the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation introduced several new disciplines such as women's artistic gymnastics, trampolining and aerobics. And today, Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation includes six gymnastics disciplines including Rhythmic Gymnastics, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline Gymnastics and Tumbling Acrobatic Gymnastics Aerobic Gymnastics.
Year by year the national gymnasts gain more and more hauls and 2015 became the most successful year for this graceful sport, as the country gained 157 medals, compared to 114 medals gained in 2014.
The Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation was acknowledged to be the best federation and the iconic 9,000-seat National Gymnastics Arena, designed to host all gymnastics disciplines declared the best Arena by the Azerbaijan Youth and Sports Ministry in the country last year.