Baku, Azerbaijan, March 4
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
Azerbaijan has become a venue for prestigious international competitions, and the revival of Azerbaijani sport is in the focus of world attention, the deputy youth and sports minister of Azerbaijan, Ismayil Ismayilov said.
He made the remarks on March 4 at the ceremony for opening of the Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics Disciplines, held in Baku.
Ismayilov said that from the point of view of modern requirements, the world and European championships, and international tournaments held in Azerbaijan have been organized at a high level.
He said the positive feedbacks of international sports organizations about regular holding of such events in Azerbaijan are connected with this.
"To justify this confidence, we, under the leadership of the president of Azerbaijan, the head of the National Olympic Committee, Ilham Aliyev, are trying to adequately fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to us," Ismayilov said.
He also thanked the president of the European Union of Gymnastics, Georges Guelzec for assisting in holding such a prestigious tournament in Azerbaijan and athletes for participation in the Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics Disciplines.
"These tournaments, where the athletes from over 20 European countries are taking part, will undoubtedly play important role in the growth of mass character of gymnastics, development and promotion of this type of sport in Azerbaijan, and will create conditions for athletes to gain experience," Ismayilov said.
He also expressed confidence that these competitions will be an unforgettable holiday for spectators and fans.
"I believe the athletes, who compete here, will also be able to demonstrate their skills at the First European Games," he further noted.
Ismayilov underscored that the foundation for the development of sport in Azerbaijan was laid by the National Leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.
He said that as a result of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev's policy, Olympic complexes have been built even in the most remote regions of Azerbaijan, and training assemblies and competitions are held in these regions.
"This policy is today very successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev," he said.
Ismayilov added that as a result of this policy, about 60 world and European level competitions giving license are annually held in Azerbaijan at a high level.
"Azerbaijani athletes have won in various countries around the world, 805 medals in Olympic and non-Olympic sports," he said.
The deputy minister especially noted the great care and attention provided to the development of gymnastics by the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation's President, First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.
"Today, gymnastics has become in Azerbaijan one of the leading types of sport," he further said. "Our gymnasts very successfully perform at the world and European championships, and win medals."
He said Azerbaijan every year hosts European championship and international tournaments in gymnastic disciplines, which is a result of the Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva's attention to this type of sport.
The Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics kicked off in Baku on March 4. This is the test championship on the eve of the First European Games.
Coming from 22 countries, 133 gymnasts will compete for medals both in the all-around and the individual competitions.
Azerbaijani gymnasts won gold medals at Baku's Championships in Gymnastics. Oleg Stepko and Kristina Pravdina won gold medals in the all-around competition among men and women respectively.
The European Games themselves will be hosted in Baku on June 12-28, 2015. There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition. Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012.