Whistles, offensive exclamations, thumbs down signs, conspicuously hostile atmosphere. Security everywhere. For the 25 Armenian sportsmen, the European Games in Baku mean also this, the Italian news agency Askanews reports.

During the opening ceremony, the Armenian delegation was met with whistles. The flag of the country wasn’t flying, and the sportsmen are strictly guarded by security to avoid incidents. The bodyguards escort the Armenian athletes even at the competitions.  Nevertheless, the Games' chief operating officer Simon Clegg remains optimistic:  “Bearing in mind the difficulties between the two countries it demonstrates the power of sport that Armenia is here participating.”