Azerbaijan hosts “Baku Pearl” Intellectual Youth Festival
By Nazrin Gadimova
The fifth Intellectual Youth Festival "Baku Pearl 2014" for the intellectual games "What? Where? When?" and "Brain Ring" was held in Hotel JW Marriott Hotel Absheron. The event was attended by 24 Azerbaijani teams.
Azerbaijan's capital hosts once a year the "Baku Pearl" (Bakının Birincisi), a magnificent festival of intellectual games, which brings together all the intellectual youth of the country.
Author and the main organizer of the project is well-known player of Baku "What? Where? When?" elite club, Ayan Bashirzade who entertains all the fans of this game for five years.
The event held on Saturday, July 5, was co-organized by the Great Silk Road International Youth Union and the "Azerbaijan" intellectual games club and supported by Azerbaijan's Youth and Sports Ministry.
About 150 elegantly dressed young men and women gathered in the luxurious hall of hotel, waiting anxiously for the start of the game.
After the national anthem was sounded at the opening ceremony, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation Farhad Hajiyev, Head of the Great Silk Road International Youth Union, MP Fuad Muradov, Board Member of Azerbaijan's Press Council, MP Javanshir Feyziyev and President of the "Azerbaijan" Intellectual Games Club Aydin Piriyev spoke about successful youth policies implemented in Azerbaijan. They noted the importance of promoting intellectual games, and then wished success for the participants of the festival.
Famous and beloved players of Moscow and Minsk elite clubs, holders of the "Crystal Owl", Andrew Supranovich and Ales Mukhin became the hosts of this year's festival and well-known players of the Moscow elite club Anastasia Shutova and Alexander Finger, as well as Azerbaijani intellectuals Aydin Piriyev and Sevda Abdinova were members of the jury.
After a long struggle ,"Slon v Udave" team won the tournament, leaving behind "Falcon", and "Everest", who won silver and bronze medals accordingly. Those who took the first three places in the tournament were awarded with diplomas and valuable gifts.
Moreover, hosted by Alexander Finger, a contest for "Brain Ring" was held within the festival among the teams. "Slon v Udave" also won the Brain Ring, and became the absolute champion of the "Baku Pearl - 2014".
This year, the project was supported by Avromed and Lukoil-Azerbaijan companies, whose heads presented gifts to the winners of the festival.
After the game, Ales Mukhin shared his impressions of the festival, as well as the beautiful capital of our country.
"I do not know any other city in the world which is more changeable than Baku," he said. "I visit this city each time with some kind of inner delights, waiting for surprises. For example, I have not been in Baku for a couple of years, and this time I saw the Flame Towers and it's just a fantastic spectacle. Construction of the beautiful waterfront is underway and as you can see the entire neighborhoods are being changed before our eyes. When I stayed in the Absheron [hotel] twelve years ago, it was a Soviet hotel, but now it's an ultra-modern hotel, where such a great tournament like "Baku Pearl" is being held."
"I love the organization of the festival. Fortunately for the Baku youth, and our youth at all - "Baku Pearl" is completely different. I think Ayan Bashirzade has managed to think about everything in details. All participants were fed well. The huge event was held in one day and moreover, the winners were awarded good prizes. In addition, the festival was honored to be supported by the largest Azerbaijani companies, and won the attention of the deputies. I think it is very important for the young people who come here to get engaged in a public affair. They won the public attention," he said.
Another host of the festival, Andrew Supranovich stressed that the full support of Azerbaijan for intellectual movements like this are clearly visible.
"These tournaments undoubtedly contribute to youth development and their outlook communication, as well as skills expansion. They also provide an opportunity for creative expression," he said. "The future of any country belongs to its intellectual elite. "
The Intellectual Youth Festival "Baku Pearl" has been held since 2010. This tournament has been registered in the Moscow-based International Association of Clubs.