Udovicic: Serbian athletes looking forward to European Games

BAKU - Serbian Minister of Youth and Sports Vanja Udovicic, who is on a working visit to Azerbaijan, met with members of the organizing committee of the First European Games, set to take place in Baku next year.

Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 Simon Clegg informed Udovicic about the progress of the preparations for the first continental games in the Olympic tradition.

"Serbia will be sending a strong team to the inaugural European Games, and we are looking forward to welcoming their athletes to the competition here next year," Clegg said.

Half-way through the qualifications for Baku 2015, Serbian 3x3 basketball team, sprint canoeists, gymnasts, wrestlers and boxers have already met the qualification criteria.

Udovicic expressed his satisfaction with the visit to the Baku 2015 headquarters, Olympic Village and the competition venues.

"Our athletes are aware that the European Games are an important event that will become one of the major multi-sport events on the international calendar, so they are very excited about the opportunity to represent our country here in Baku," said Udovicic.

The inaugural European Games, scheduled for June 12-28 next year, will feature 18 sports that meet the International Olympic Committee (IOC) criteria, and a number of non-Olympic sports including karate, 3x3 basketball and beach soccer.

More than 6,000 athletes from 49 European countries are expected to compete in Baku 2015.

Photo Tanjug, R. Prelic (archive)