Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev participated in the award ceremony of the sportspersons, coaches, and sport specialists who distinguished themselves in 2006, Trend reports.
On December 20, in the beginning of the event, Chingiz Husseynzadeh, the Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee, said that the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee held meetings connected with the results of 2006 and saw the report. Issues on preparation for the next Olympic Games to be held in Beijing in 2008, as well as distribution of responsibilities were discussed. During the meeting, Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan Sports and Youth Minister was chosen as the Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee, and Ismayil Ismayilov, the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister a member of the Executive Committee. During his speech, Mr. Rahimov pledged that he would do all his best to develop sport and youth in the country on the post of the Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee.
The Azerbaijan President expressed his satisfaction with the team work of all offices which are engaged in sport development of the country in 2006. According to him, Azerbaijan is developing its sport as well as other spheres. We are happy that the interest to sport in Azerbaijan is set to increase, said the President, and added that 2,087 medal in international arenas gained in 2006 is a high result.
President Aliyev remembered that since 2000, Azerbaijan has begun to put modern sport complexes into operation in all its regions and 10 others were under construction. He said that the known Mingachavir Boat-Racing Base would be reconstructed in 2007 to meet the international standards. The Head of the Azerbaijan State emphasized that Azerbaijan was paying much attention both to Olympic and non-Olympic sports.