“Olympic Moves” program presented
By Amina Nazarli
Baku hosted the presentation of the “Olympic Moves” - a new multi-discipline sport program for schoolchildren on December 17.
The program was implemented by the International Olympic
Committee, Coca-Cola Company, Azerbaijan National Olympic
Committee, Youth and Sports Ministry and Education Ministry.
The "Olympic Moves" program for the first time was implemented in
the Netherlands in 2003. Azerbaijan is the fifth country, where the
program was launched. The main target group of the program is 350
students of Baku’s secondary schools aged between 12 and 16.
Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov, vice-president of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Chingiz Huseynzade, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, General Manager of the “Azerbaijan Coca-Cola Bottlers” company Cem Becel attended the event.
The program aims to strengthen physical well-being of people where both children and their parents will be engaged in regular physical activities by playing sports together.
Head of the marketing department of the NOC Mehman Karimov said the overall goal of the program covers 4 different sports such as athletics, badminton, basketball 3x3 and cycling.
Addressing the event, Chingiz Huseynzade emphasized that 2015
was very significant year both for the country’s and world’s
sports.
“We are very happy that the Baku 2015 European Games was held at
the highest level,” he said. “The heritage of Baku 2015 plays a big
role in attracting children to sport. The sport federations
actively support this process. The project will contribute to
promoting sports among Azerbaijani children, providing efficient
organization of their leisure time.”
Emphasizing that this year was very significant for the national
sport, Azad Rahimov noted that holding the 1st European Games in
Baku and gaining more medals, are the main successes of the
country.
During this year the national athletes claimed more than 820 medals
on Olympic and non-Olympic sports and this is more than in 2014, he
said.
The minister stressed that the sports infrastructure is being
developed not only in the capital Baku, but also in the
regions.
Currently, children are free to play sports in 41 Olympic-sports
complex operating in the regions. The regions also hold zonal
competitions among children, which promotes mass sports.
Jabbarov, in turn, said one of the main objectives in Azerbaijan is a promotion of healthy lifestyle.
He stressed that sport plays an important role in promoting health, socialization and the formation of children as individuals.
“Future Olympic champions are now studying in schools. Today, all secondary schools in our country have good sports infrastructure,” he said.
Noting the importance of the project, the education minister said that the number of sports included in the "Olympic Moves" will increase in the future.
Today, Azerbaijan is known as a sporting nation in the world. During the last 10 years Azerbaijan has successfully hosted nearly 300 international sports events, including European and world championships, which have increased the international Olympic family’s confidence in Azerbaijan.
The 1st European Games held in Baku this year has become the most responsible one, since it was attended by more than 6,000 athletes from 50 European countries.
Baku was already named the host of the 2016 Formula 1 race, the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games and the quarterfinals and three group games of the UEFA EURO 202
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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