- Title: GAMES-EUROPE/ARMENIA Baku organisers prepared for anti-Armenian sentiment
- Date: 13th June 2015
- Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (JUNE 13, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF HILTON HOTEL AZERBAIJAN MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS, AZAD RAHIMOV, AND BAKU 2015 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SIMON CLEGG, BEING SEATED AHEAD OF NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAKU 2015 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SIMON CLEGG, SAYING: "Obviously I recognise that there were some reaction from elements of the pub
- Embargoed: 28th June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Azerbaijan
- Country: Azerbaijan
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA8Z2GTGHB4A2FGJXCMWFQ8UKE7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The organisers of the European Games expected possible anti-Armenian sentiment from the home crowd, they said on Saturday (June 13), a day after the neighbouring country's team was booed at the opening ceremony.
"Obviously I recognise that there were some reaction from elements of the public to the marching of certain delegations, both positive and not so positive, but this I have to say is something that we expected," Games chief Simon Clegg told reporters when asked whether he was concerned about crowds reacting to Armenian athletes' presence at the Games.
Relations between the two nations have been tense for decades over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and thousands of Azeri spectators booed and jeered the Armenian team loudly as it entered the Olympic stadium during the athletes' parade on Friday evening.
The hostile reception continued on Saturday when Armenian athletes were booed at the start of the wrestling competition.
War erupted over Nagorno-Karabakh in 1991 as the Soviet Union broke up, killing about 30,000 people. A ceasefire was called in 1994 but violence has broken out sporadically since.
The Armenian team has sent 25 athletes to the June 12-28 event after the intervention of International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach last year.
They are competing mainly in wrestling and boxing but the country's Olympic chief has stayed away from Baku.
"Bearing in mind the difficulties between the two countries I think that it demonstrates the power of sport, that Armenia is here and participating in the first ever European Games. I think to have all fifty national Olympic committees marching in the opening ceremony sent an incredibly positive message," Clegg said.
The Games officials also said a decision to ban some foreign media from attending the inaugural European Games in Azerbaijan this month rested with the government and was not taken by the event's organisers.
Journalists, including English newspaper The Guardian's chief sports correspondent, have been refused entry visas but Baku Games organisers said it was the government who was clearing individuals to enter the country based on their own set of criteria.
Azeri Minister for Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov said any restrictions to enter the country were also related with the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
"That is the rule of our country, unfortunately this rule is still going on and will be finished after the Nagorno-Karabach conflict will be finalised. If the journalist visiting the Karabakh not from the Azerbaijan territory to Azerbaijan land, to Nagorno-Karabakh, he can never enter into our country and we put the ban to the border for that journalist. Two or three of them, which sent their accreditation to us, let's say their requirement for accreditation did not receive...were not approved because of this reason," Rahimov said at a joint news conference with Clegg.
Nagorno-Karabakh has run its own affairs with heavy military and financial backing from Armenia since the war. Armenian-backed forces hold seven Azeri districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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