The Opening Ceremony of the Inaugural European Games took place on June 12 in Baku. There were the President of the All-Russian and the European Sambo Federations Sergey Eliseev, President of the International Sambo Federation Vasily Shestakov. The solemn opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Ilham Zakiyev, two-time Paralympic champion, accompanied by taekwondo athlete Said Guliyev delivered the torch to the Olympic Stadium. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev declared the Games open.
To recall, during the competition will be played 253 sets of medals in 20 sports. 72 sambo athletes from 21 European countries will take part SAMBO tournament. Competitions will be held in four weight categories among men and four among women.
Titled famous athletes and multiple world and European champions will compete in the First European Games to gain the first place. Russian athletes are aimed only for victory.
The three-time world and European champion in sports sambo, Russian athlete Artem Osipenko said in its interview, “I have seriously prepared for a start. If you’re honored to represent Russia at the international arena, we must do your best, in order to prove that it is not just given to you, but you gained it ”.