The Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) is pleased to announce that the increasingly popular sport of Sambo will be included in the Baku 2015 sports programme.
In line with the European Olympic Committees’ (EOC) vision to make the European Games innovative and pioneering and following an excellent presentation by the International Sambo Federation, BEGOC has decided to include Sambo, a decision which has been subsequently approved by the EOC.
Sambo is an explosive mix of judo, jujitsu and wrestling as well as other fighting styles, and is extremely popular in Azerbaijan with a long history throughout the surrounding Caucasus region.
Mr Clegg said: "We are delighted to formally announce that Sambo will be included in the sports programme at Baku 2015 and increase the number of innovative new sports we will have on display at next year’s inaugural Games.
“The opportunity to include such a highly popular sport here in Azerbaijan will further increase the excitement about the event and potentially leave the European Olympic Committees with the legacy of including popular local sports within future sport programmes.”
Sambo’s inclusion now means a total of 20 sports will feature at Baku 2015, with 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports on display.