ARMENIA OFFICIALLY CONFIRM PARTICIPATION AT BAKU 2015 DESPITE CONFLICT WITH AZERBAIJAN

Insidethegames.biz
March 11 2015

Wednesday, 11 March 2015
By Nick Butler

Armenia have confirmed they will compete in the inaugural European
Games in Baku despite the continuing conflict between them and
Azerbaijan, it was officially announced today.

A final decision was made by the Executive Committee of the Armenian
National Olympic Committee’s (NOCA) following months of deliberation.

The country expected to compete in the sports of sambo, shooting,
judo, wrestling, boxing, and taekwondo.

Fierce tension has existed between Azerbaijan and Armenia ever
since the two countries received independence in 1991 following the
break-up of the Soviet Union over ownership of Nagorno-Karabakh, a
landlocked region in the South Caucasus which lies within Azerbaijan’s
internationally recognised borders.

More than 30,000 people were killed and 1.2 million displaced before
Russia brokered a cease-fire in 1994.

The mountainous region, inhabited predominantly by ethnic Armenians,
has provoked more tension in recent months after Azerbaijan shot
down what it claimed was an Armenian military helicopter on their
territory east of Nagorno-Karabakh, killing three crew members.

It has taken much mediation to find a solution to allow Armenian
participation in Baku.

But, following a series of promises such solution would be found,
today’s confirmation is a major coup for the European Olympic
Committees (EOC) and Games organisers less than three months before
the first European continental Games are due to open on June 12.

Some 6,000 athletes spanning all 50 EOC members now set to compete.

“We are very pleased to confirm our participation in the first European
Games,” said NOCA President Gagik Tsarukyan in a statement.

“We know that Armenian athletes will have the best possible facilities
and support available to them at Baku 2015, helping them reach their
peak performance this summer.

“My Executive Board took this decision based on sporting reasons alone;
it is important to keep sport independent from politics.

“We have already started organising our team for the Games, we will
make further announcements about our preparations in due course.

“But I can say now that this was the best decision for the future of
sport in our country.”

The official also thanked EOC President Patrick Hickey and
International Olympic Committee counterpart Thomas Bach for the
“support and encouragement they have provided which has directly led
to this positive decision today”.

The duo visited Yerevan last year to discuss the country’s
participation with officials including Armenian President, Serzh
Sargsyan.

“This is great news for the European Games and for Armenian sport,
and I want to congratulate the National Olympic Committee for taking
this decision,” said Hickey.

“From the start I have very been confident that this would be the end
outcome as Armenia is a passionate sports country and an important
member of the European Olympic family.

“The presence of their athletes at Baku 2015 will certainly contribute
to the success of the inaugural European Games.”