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Azerbaijan spectators gave the small Armenian delegation a hostile reception when they entered the Olympic Stadium in Baku for the lavish opening ceremony of the inaugural European Games, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports.

The decision by the Armenians to compete was a considerable diplomatic coup for European Olympic Committee president Pat Hickey, according to AFP.

The Armenia team had been anticipating a 'warm' welcome and they duly got it as their delegation -- seemingly without athletes as it comprised elderly looking, grey-haired men -- was jeered. Some spectators chanted 'Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan' and brandished the national flag, AFP writes.

The Portuguese newspaper Público writes that the opening ceremony of the European Games in Baku was marked by whistles at the Armenian delegation. “The enthusiasm and the sporting sprit common for the main sporting events across the world were disrupted for a moment to transform into a chorus of whistles when the 7 Armenians marched with their flag,” Público notes.

Deutsche Welle also noted the incident. “The Games’ opening was marred by an incident when the spectators in the stadium wooed at the Armenian delegation during the participants’ parade,” the Russian service of DW writes.

After the Vice-President of the Azerbaijani National Olympic Committee, Chingiz Huseynzade, declared that the host country will cover all the expenses of the 50 delegations taking part in the Games, including the Armenian delegation, Azerbaijan saw a rise of a wave of calls to refuse hosting the European Games because of the financial crisis. The head of the so-called “Karabakh Liberation Organization” (KLO), Akif Nagi, voiced yet another threat to the Armenian national team. “We will not give the representatives of Armenia the chance to visit Baku. Otherwise we will take any measure to hinder them and even drive them out of Baku,” Nagi told the Azerbaijani information agency Faktxeber.

In October 2014 during his meeting with the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach assured that IOC and EOC will exert every effort to guarantee the security of the Armenian sportsmen in the country hosting the European Games, that is, Azerbaijan. On 5 November in Bangkok, Patrick Hickey, the head of EOC (European Olympic Committee) declared that Armenia will take part in the European Games in Baku and noted that the problems preventing that have already been solved. There are 53 people in the Armenian delegation.

On 12-28 June, Baku is hosting the first European Games under the auspices of the European Olympic Committee. According to media estimates, the Games will cost the Azerbaijani population $10 billion. However, they have become a serious headache for the locals with numerous bans and demolition of property. The preparatory works for the Games are accompanied by crackdowns and brutal repressions against dissent.

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RFE/RL: Armenia's decision to take part in European Games in Baku despite threats is victory for sport diplomacy 

Armenian delegation to cover its expenses for Baku European Games