President Aliyev praises Azerbaijan's Universiade triumph
By Nazrin Gadimova
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received medal winners of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan, the capital of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, their coaches and the country`s sports professionals on July 24.
The head of state congratulated them on their triumph at the Universiade tournament, which was held on July 6-17.
"This is a great win! It is yet another sporting success of our state and nation. Our athletes have performed at a very high level, won 16 medals, including four gold, five silver and seven bronze ones. Our national anthem was played four times and our national flag was raised 16 times. Azerbaijan has proved to the world again that it is a sporting nation and that sport is developing very successfully in Azerbaijan," the President said.
President Aliyev noted that Azerbaijani athletes have been able to finish in 15th place in team rankings.
"We are in ninth place in Europe and in first place among Muslim countries," he said. "This is also our great success. Hard work and professionalism of athletes are at the core of this success. At last year's Olympic Games in London, our athletes achieved a very high and historic success."
The President emphasized the rapid development of sports in Azerbaijan.
"Professional athletes, youth, students, children, teenagers -- there is a great interest in sports. Azerbaijan is achieving great success in all representative international competitions. In London, we won 10 medals, and this too was a historic achievement," President Aliyev said.
President Aliyev said there was a great deal of interest in the Universiade.
"The eyes of the whole world were focused on the games those days. Of course, these successes of Azerbaijan show the overall development of our country. It is no secret that sport can develop successfully and great victories can be achieved in it only in strong and powerful states. Azerbaijan is a country that is rapidly developing. In particular, the progress made in the field of sports is duly evaluated by the world community. I think that we have managed to popularize sports. There is still much to do in this area. But if we look at the overall situation, the growing interest in sports in recent years and the influx of people into various sports, especially the interest of children and adolescents, this shows that we have managed to popularize them. This is also evidenced by the recent opening of the 38th regional Olympic Sports Center in Khachmaz. Thirty-eight of our cities now have excellent sporting facilities. As you know, this work is under way. Every city and every district center will have excellent opportunities," the President said.
According to the President, the state policy has led to positive results in this regard.
"Sport in Azerbaijan is a national issue. Sport is an integral part of our society. At all events associated with sports I emphasize that everyone, especially young people, should do sports. Even if you are not an athlete, sports give people physical and moral strength and confidence. Sport is a culture. I believe that the government's policy has produced positive results in this direction. Government attention to athletes is also at a high level. I regularly meet with athletes and congratulate them on their successes. I am glad that our meetings have been held regularly these years," the President said.
Aliyev expressed confidence that Azerbaijani atheletes will take part in the Olympic Games in 2016 and will raise the flag of Azerbaijan there.
The President also mentioned the holding of the first-ever European Games in 2015, hailing this as one of the country's remarkable successes.
Speaking at the meeting, winner of the Universiade, Greco-Roman wrestler Rasul Chunayev said that the head of state's and the people's support played an important role in ensuring their success.
Chunayev, who spoke on behalf of the sportsmen, said they will vote for Ilham Aliyev in the forthcoming presidential election.
Coach Yagub Mammadov said that Azerbaijan ranked 15th in the overall medal table of the World University Summer Games where it was represented by a squad of 81 athletes, regarding it as a record indicator. He thanked President Aliyev for the attention to sportsmen and sports specialists and also said they will vote for Ilham Aliyev at the upcoming presidential election.
Azerbaijani wrestlers Rasul Chunaev and Julia Ratkevich, runner Hayle Ibrahimov and weightlifter Firudin Guliyev won gold medals at Universiade-2013. Also, Ulviyya Kerimova and Kristina Iovu won silver in belt wrestling and weightlifting accordingly. Wrestlers Jabrayil Hasanov, Kamran Mammadov and Patimat Bagomedova claimed silver medals as well.
The bronze went to judo wrestler Mammadali Mehdiyev, wrestlers Haji Aliyev, Irina Netreba and Eldaniz Azizli, and sambo fighters Aghasif Samadov, Emil Hasanov and Islam Gasumov.