2024-10-06 04:47:34
“For me, Azerbaijan is great hospitality, friendly people, a combination of ancient history and very modern architecture”
Donatella Sacchi is the President of the Technical Committee for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). We present an exclusive interview with an Italian woman for İdman.biz.
– You participated in the 1976 Olympic Games. What do you remember about the Montreal Olympics?
– For me it was a fantastic event. I remember well, there I put on heels for the first time; walking was not easy. She trained with the best teams of that time, watching such world-class gymnasts as Nadia Comaneci, Nelly Kim, Lyudmila Turishcheva.
I was an ordinary gymnast, not at that level; for me it was already a great achievement to be there. I was flattered to watch them so closely and admired them.
– Tell us about your responsibilities as president of the FIG technical committee.
– I was elected to this position in 2016 at a congress in Tokyo, and I began work on January 1 of the following year. The Women’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee establishes a judging code for each Olympic cycle. Part of my responsibilities include preparing and conducting referee courses for each Olympic cycle, as well as directing the major FIG competitions in conjunction with the Technical Committee.
Sometimes I consult for the Italian Gymnastics Federation, conduct tests for gymnasts or give lectures to judges and coaches. In any case, I do this at the request of any gymnastics federation.
– You have been to Azerbaijan more than once…
– I visited Baku for the first time as president of the FIG technical committee in 2017. Next year I visited your country to participate in the FIG Congress, and also as a guest at the European Championships. It has always been wonderful in Baku.
For me, Azerbaijan is a rich country, excellent hospitality, clean and friendly people, a combination of ancient history and very modern architecture. Also Formula 1 – I know that Leclerc recently became second there with Ferrari. I like history and was interested in learning about the old tower and its legend.
– What can you say about Azerbaijani gymnastics?
– The Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation organizes many competitions in various FIG disciplines at the European and world level. Every year they organize the AGF Trophy for men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics, featuring the best gymnasts from around the world. The competition is part of the FIG World Cup series and, in an Olympic year, an Olympic qualifying tournament.
Nikita Simonov was the silver medalist on rings at the last European Championships. But the strongest discipline in Azerbaijan is rhythmic gymnastics. The group showed an excellent result at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing in 5th place. They have won many medals in prestigious European and world competitions.
In rhythmic gymnastics, Zohra Agamirova also qualified and took part in the Paris Olympics.
Former gymnast Kristina Pravdina was a judge at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as was her colleague in men’s artistic gymnastics, Rza Aliyev. Natalia Bulanova is a member of the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee, and former group gymnast Siyana Vasileva has been elected as the athletes’ representative on the committee.
Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gaibov is working to update the structure of European gymnastics. He created a workforce within the Executive Committee for a specific purpose. I believe that he will achieve even greater success in his activities.
Rasim
İdman.biz