2014, successful year for Azerbaijani youths, sports
By Nigar Orujova
The outgoing year was a successful one for Azerbaijan in terms of implementing youth and sports policies, Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Youth and Sports Minister said at a press conference on 2014 achievements on December 29.
He said, Azerbaijani athletes once more promoted Azerbaijan’s image as a sporting country and won more than 800 medals including 275 gold medals.
Many important international events and competitions were held in Azerbaijan this year, including the 30th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics, the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committee, the Global Forum on Youth Policy, 6th World Cyber Games Championship.
Speaking about the major sport event that will be held in Azerbaijan next summer, the first European Games, Rahimov said that some 320-330 Azerbaijani athletes will fight at the event.
The Azerbaijani team will be the largest team in the upcoming games, he noted.
“Azerbaijan is hosting these games, so we have the right to represent our athletes in each category. The Azerbaijani team will be the largest one participating in the first European Games," Rahimov underlined.
The historic event will be held in Baku on June 12-28, attracting some 6,000 athletes from around Europe to compete in 17 sports.
The minister also raised the issue of construction of youth houses, the number of which has reached 30 in the country.
"We would like the Youth House in Baku and the regions become a kind of youth hub, where young people can take advantages of the conditions created there. We also made a proposal for their financial support, and we hope that next year we will be able to resolve this issue," Rahimov added.
He also said this year another interesting project has been implemented- an essay contest titled "What do I know about Azerbaijan?"
The minister said, 174 winners of the competition from all over the world came to Azerbaijan and saw with their own eyes what they wrote about the country.
They left the country after becoming friends of Azerbaijan, Rahimov added.