Shamil Tarpishchev: The European Games have a future

The European Games, whose foundation was laid in Baku this June, have a future, but it depends on how much further the European Olympic Committee will negotiate with the international individual sports federations to ensure the representation of delegations, the President of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev said in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza on the sidelines of a press conference on the results of the Russian national team's performance in the Davis Cup match with Spain.

"The future today is controversial only in one way: it is necessary to work in an international federation, for the strongest to be there. Because it is clear that if you do not find a window in the calendar, which is suitable for all kinds, the possibilities are narrowed. You should not think about the country, but about the International Federation, which should make the decision, each individually. I believe that there is a future, why not? Tremendous work has been done by European organizations, not to mention Azerbaijan as a country, which took the initiative first and made these Games. The future only depends on the work that we will all do together in an international federation," Shamil Tarpishchev explained.

The President of the RTF assessed the holding of the first European Games in Baku very positively: "The wonderful city of Baku, very warm and really the last time I was there was three years ago: I opened a tennis center with the president. Enormous changes in the best possible way, everyone who was at these European Games are delighted. As for the Games, a very interesting event, this is the first one, it is always more difficult to hold the first one, they went without a single criticism. This is also a heritage of organization issue, an image component, and it is the knowledge of those people who are there. The volunteers worked very well. I think that all the best that was at the previous Games, including Sochi, was taken into account, used in the holding of the Games. And the results speak for themselves: Azerbaijan came second in the team competition, the performance was phenomenal, the interest was great. Basically, these Games should be developed."

Speaking about the prospects of development of tennis in Azerbaijan Shamil Tarpishchev expressed the opinion that it has a great future in this country. "A good school is created there. And I think that it is a little bit early to wait for the results. But they - I do not remember the name now - got a very good girl who is already showing results, and at junior competitions in America she played, and was, i think, second. Tennis - is a very difficult technical sport and usually you need 6-7 years in order to show the result of activity. But if there is a center, then there will be a result," the head of the RTF has no doubt.