Igor Kazikov: “European Games hold the future”

The head of the Russian delegation at the First European Games in Baku, the head of the Chief Department for Participation of the Olympic Committee of Russia in the Olympic Games, Igor Kazikov, sums up the preliminary results of the performance of the Russian national team in an interview to Vestnik Kavkaza.

-          What do you think about the results of the First European Games for the Russian team?

-          We can see the determination to struggle, and competition is serious in almost all kinds of sports. Everybody wants to win, to be a winner of the First Games, i.e. to become a legend of the Games. In fact, we consider the championship to be a stage of preparation for the Olympics in Rio. Such complex competitions are not held in Europe. And such an experience is very important for us. Azerbaijan, our colleagues and friends, have done their best to hold the Games successfully.

A lot of athletes and coaches have come here. Sporting facilities have been built; the conditions are great there. Infrastructure has been built; service staff and volunteers have been trained. This is an experience not only for athletes, but also for the country which is hosting the competitions. There will be heritage, facilities, infrastructure which will contribute to the involvement of children and young people in sports. And the large numbers of spectators and young people at sporting halls will be an impetus for the development of sports in Azerbaijan and in Europe in general.

-          Did you expect such results from the Russian team?

-          We never planned to win the all-team competition; we don’t set such tasks. However, the athletes are performing, fighting, they believe it is prestigious to win the First European Games. Our goal is to show the highest possible results at the Games. The athletes got used to fighting for top places.

-          What do you think about the future of the European Games?

-          I have already said that complex competitions have never been organized before. There are European championships in various kinds of sports; but holding championships in 20 disciplines simultaneously is almost the Olympic format. So, gaining such an experience, participation in such competitions, is important for our athletes and athletes from other countries.

These are the First European Games, and it is prestigious to become a prize winner at the Games. There will be second, third, fourth and fifth Games, but later. Today we are writing the history of such sporting events which have been held on other continents for many years. So, there will be discussions about the schedule of the European Championships to match them with the European Olympic Games. I think the Games hold the future.