Daniella Della Chiaia: "I am optimistic about Azerbaijan's future"

By Vestnik Kavkaza
 Daniella Della Chiaia: "I am optimistic about Azerbaijan's future"

Today the FIG World Cup Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics starts in Baku. During the first two days of the competition gymnasts from 17 countries will be competing for medals in the all-round competition. On the concluding day of the Cup, July 24, the finals for certain categories will be held and a special awards ceremony will be organized for the gymnasts and groups taking the first places according to the best 4 results shown in previous series. A technical delegate of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), the Vice-President of the Italian Gymnastics Federation, Daniela Delle Chiaie, told Vestnik Kavkaza about the Cup, the judging system and her first impressions of Baku.

- Gymnastics is one of the priority sports in Azerbaijan. The National Federation is headed by the First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. How do you assess the level of training of Azerbaijani gymnasts?

- Aliya Garayeva was the first who brought fame and respect to Azerbaijan [Aliya Garayeva, who performing with a rope became the European champion at the European Championships in 2007 for the first time in Azerbaijan's history - VK]. Since then a new period in the development of Azerbaijani Gymnastics has begun, with great results. The junior team of Azerbaijan has also undergone great changes. The skills of gymnasts are becoming better, exercises are becoming more difficult. Garayeva has set a good pace and there is every opportunity to maintain it today, both at the individual level as well as in the team competitions. Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani team has got to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro only as a reserve, because of one misstep, but it's just bad luck. It was evident that many efforts were made. But months of training were not a waste of time, although the team has got into the reserve. [However, the Azerbaijani gymnast Marina Durunda took a high sixth place at last year's world championships in rhythmic gymnastics in Stuttgart and qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 - VK].

- When the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva was elected as the President of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation in October 2002, a significant revival of the sport has started. Azerbaijani gymnasts won medals in European and world championships in individual, group and team competitions. How do you assess the support of national gymnastics by the government?

- Very few federations receive such support from the government as they do in Azerbaijan, therefore gymnasts are given great opportunities here. For example, gyms and other support, and not only in Baku, but also in many regions of the country. I think that Azerbaijani gymnastics will develop even more intensively after the Olympics in Rio, it has broad prospects here. Azerbaijan hosts a large number of sporting events. The World Cup, a number of championships, the First European Games and the Formula 1 Grand Prix have been held here. The latter is not related to gymnastics, but still it should be listed, because it demonstrates the capabilities of the organizers.

Azerbaijan has close contacts with Europe, which will continue. There is great progress. The Gymnastics Federation is very responsible, very attentive to all the problems that appear during the championship. Interestingly, politicians are also closely watching the competitions. The head coach of the Azerbaijani rhythmic gymnastics team, Mariana Vasileva, is energizing the entire process. I am optimistic about the future of Azerbaijan. But we must realize that one achieves some results only when one does great work. You cannot get everything at once.

- How objective can judges be in rhythmic gymnastics?

- This problem is always present in all the sports that require artistry, not only in gymnastics. Because it's art. We cannot tell by looking at a picture if it is good or not. There are critics who estimate bad things, good things, what is or is not beautiful. But when we talk about the public, the audience, there is always something that I like, but you don't. The same thing applies to gymnastics. There are rules by which we judge main competitions, but still there are subjective moments. However, there is a technical delegate at major competitions, who guarantees the maximum objectivity. From my experience, I can say that there will always be a subjective aspect. When judges give lower scores, a gymnast must understand that she can do better and does not mean she should blame the referee.

- You have already been in Baku. How do you see the city this time?

- The city has changed a lot since the European Championships in 2007. It is very modern and open to innovations. I thought that I will see here a lot of girls in headscarves, but there is nothing like that here. I know that there are synagogues and churches in Baku. I see that Baku is an open city. They say that Azerbaijanis are like Italians in terms of thinking, in terms of behaving. The Baku embankment is called 'Little Naples'. The Azerbaijani government is trying to create good conditions for its population and it is working. This country has great potential, but it has to work, work and work. If you work hard, then you will be rewarded.

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