European Games in Baku to be special: Swiss Olympic Committee

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

The Swiss Olympic Committee is sure that Azerbaijan will be a very fine and well prepared host of the inaugural European Games in Baku, the committee told Trend on May 7.

“We certainly expect strong performances from our athletes and good results,” the SOC said. “But for some of our athletes competing at the European Games in Baku is not all about the result itself but also about gaining experience at a multisport event like this.”

The Committee is sure that the European Games in Baku will be something special.

“The fact that Olympic and non-Olympic sports (as beach soccer) are part of the Games will make it a very fresh and interesting event,” the committee assures.

The Switzerland team at the innovative sport event in Baku is expected to include between 130 and 150 athletes.

“For Swiss Olympic, the European Games are an important event for the mid- to long-term path to international success for an athlete,” Switzerland's Chef de Mission Ralph Stöckli said on the Swiss Olympic website earlier.

Switzerland have qualified in 12 sports at Baku 2015 – beach volleyball, shooting, boxing, judo, athletics, cycling, wrestling, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis and triathlon.

The Swiss also may still secure qualification for karate, beach soccer and 3x3 basketball.

Baku 2015 European Games will gather over 6,000 athletes from 50 countries to compete in 20 sports, including 16 Olympic.

Tickets for Baku 2015 can be purchased directly from 11 conveniently located ticket outlets around Baku, including Park Bulvar, 28 Mall, and Metro Park Baku, and online atwww.baku2015.com/tickets.