FIG VP: Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation conducts professional work in all directions

By  Trend

The Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation (AGF) is conducting the most professional work in all directions, vice-president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), five-time Olympic champion, Nellie Kim told Trend on May 3.

Kim praised the work done for the development of gymnastics in Azerbaijan. The country’s leadership plays a great role in that, she said.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to meet personally with the President of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Mehriban Aliyeva, but I can imagine how she is interested in the development of gymnastics, what she thinks about future generations, about the development of sports and about the nation. Gymnastics is a type of sports that is good for small children; there is a huge room for its development, and you are moving in this direction,” said the FIG vice-president.

She recalled that in the first years of Azerbaijan’s independence, gymnastics in the country was in a state of decline.

“I remember how we spoke with the Federation’s Secretary General Farid Gaibov about what needs to be done for the development, and the fact that this has already been done so quickly is unique. And much more will be done in the future. It is great that there is a good team here; young, active, educated people work in the Federation and do everything professionally,” added Kim.

“Azerbaijan hosts big competitions and World Cups, and even a program has been developed here for calculating scores [SmartScoring], which can compete with Longines,” Kim noted.

She also touched upon Farid Gaibov’s nomination as a candidate to presidency of the European Union of Gymnastics (UEG).

“I believe his presidency in the UEG will be an absolutely normal consequence of all his active work,” said Kim, adding that Gaibov showed and proved by his work in the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation that people can not only talk, but also work, that Azerbaijan works and there are results.

Currently, Gaibov is the UEG vice-president, and Azerbaijan is making a great contribution to the development of European gymnastics, noted Kim.

“Therefore, for me, in general, it is normal and logical that he should be the president of UEG,” added Kim. “I don’t even see another nominee and I hardly doubt his victory.”