Olympiad

Olympiad

XXX Olympic Games start

27 July 2012 13:01 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Tahir Hummatov â€“ APASport. The official opening ceremony of the XXX Summer Olympic Games will be held on July 28 at 00.12 by Baku time. Apasport.az website reports that in fact, the Olympics started yesterday by the football matches of womenâ€™s team.

The major tournament of quadrennial will be held in UKâ€™s capital and though it is the 30th tournament in number, it is being organized for the 27th time. Thus, three Olympic Games were not held during World War I and II.

London will host the Olympics for the third time. Previously London hosted the Olympics in 1908 and 1948. The great changes occurred in the Olympic Games, which returned to the island after 64 years. It is seen in number of types of sport, participating countries, sportsmen and set of medals.

About 10500 sportsmen from 204 countries will fight for 302 set of medals. The first Olympic Champion will be known on July 28. The medalists in 10m air-rifle shooting will be determined that day. The last set of medals will be presented to winners of womenâ€™s modern pentathlon.

Azerbaijan is also among 204 participating countries. 53 sportsmen (39 men, 14 women) represent our country in London. Our country participates in London Olympic Games for the fifth time as an independent country.

Our judoka Ilgar Mushkiyev (60kg) will compete first among our representatives. He can win the first medal for Azerbaijan. It is possible to predict that our sportsmen will win at least 9 medals. Four years ago our sportsmen won 7 medals in Beijing.

Azerbaijan is represented in 15 types of sport. Our main hopes are related to box, judo, weightlifting, taekwondo, rhythmic gymnastics, canoe and rowing. It was possible to win medals only from 3 of these 8 types of sport.

If our sportsmen win medals on other 7 types of sports, it will not be sensation. It is related most of all to shooting and equestrian. There is no serious hope to win medals on swimming, athletics, fencing, cycling.

We wish successes to our sportsmen.