Azernews.Az

By Gunay Camal

Azerbaijan is known in the world as a sporting nation today and the world sports community knows and recognizes it.

President Ilham Aliyev made the remark while addressing an official ceremony held to see off the national athletes, who will participate in the 31st Summer Olympic Games scheduled for August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“We pursue expedient policy in connection with sports, the Olympic Movement in Azerbaijan. All organizations governing sports are working hard. The National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, federations, societies, clubs – in other words, sport in Azerbaijan is developing well and the state policy is conducted at a high level,” he said.

The head of the state emphasized that the state policy on sports has become a social factor among the Azerbaijani society. “Today, the sportsmen are respectful and worthy people in our country. The number of people who regularly take part in sport is rising, the reason of which is successes of sportsmen and the state care for them,” he added.

President Aliyev, who also heads the National Olympic Committee, said that development of sport in Azerbaijan testifies for our general development.

Noting the country will be represented by 56 sportsmen at the Olympic Games, the head of state said this was more than the past Summer Olympic Games.

The president expressed confidence that Azerbaijani sportsmen would do their best and vie for worthy achievements. “In the last four years, the country’s sportsmen had always succeeded in the international competitions, in the world and European championships, and returned with great triumphs to the Motherland,” the president underlined.

The president went on to say that a sports infrastructure is being created in Azerbaijan. More than 40 Olympic sports centers were constructed in the country’s regions in recent years, while in Baku the sports infrastructure is at the highest level.

“Creation of sports infrastructure, particularly in the regions, allows children and youth living there to actively engage in sports. I personally attended the opening of the regional Olympic centers and stated that the main objective is to ensure a mass sport. Of course, we need a victory, champions, and we have it. But, at the same time, we need a healthy youth and healthy nation,” the president explained.

Hailing the holding of various international tournaments in the country, the president mentioned that today holding world and European championships in Azerbaijan has become commonplace.

The International Olympic Committee, European Olympic Committee highly assessed the work done in Azerbaijan in the field of sport, added President Aliyev.

“When I say that Azerbaijan is a sports nation, I say this for these reasons. Firstly, we have created the most advanced sports infrastructure, which allows us to carry out all the games at the highest level. Holding the European Games in Azerbaijan is a vivid proof of this. Second, the Azerbaijani sportsmen always take high rates in various competitions, the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships and Youth Olympic Games. A very well thought-out, consistent policy is being pursued towards the development and mass sport, and this policy has repeatedly manifested itself. Therefore, I am confident that in the years to come, international sports structures will treat Azerbaijan with great respect. And we will work so that Azerbaijan manifested itself as a sporting nation and demonstrating its capabilities also in the future,” President Aliyev stated.

The president also mentioned the upcoming major sporting events to be held in Azerbaijan, including the Baku Chess Olympiad and the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games.

“This demonstrates the potential of our country. Furthermore, this demonstrates the role our country plays in the world. Holding of the European Games in 2015 and Islamic Games in 2017 reflects the unique conditions of our country. As you know, this year has been declared in Azerbaijan as "The Year of multiculturalism." Multiculturalism is best reflected by these two competitions - European and Islamic Games,” he said.

Today Azerbaijan plays special role in the inter-civilizational dialogue, emphasized President Aliyev.

“This year Baku hosted the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. Azerbaijan is known as a tolerant, modern, dynamically developing country in the world. The world community are aware that representatives of all nations and peoples live here as a family, in harmony, in the condition of friendship. This is our great wealth,” he said.

Noting that Azerbaijan’s role is increasing on the global scale, the Head of State said the country has passed a glorious path during its 25-year long independence.

"Today Azerbaijan is a developing country," the President underlined. "Despite the world crisis we develop and live in account of ourselves. The world crisis in 2008-2009 and 2015-2016 crisis didn't have much impact on our economy. Why? It is because the government and the people act in unison, as there is not discord in the society on the country’s development. It is because we live in account of ourselves, are politically and economically independent. It is the policy based on the interests of the Azerbaijani people, and we are open to world. It is because the number of our friends increases day by day. So, the number of those who want to cooperate with us increases as well."

Other speakers included Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov, Greco-Roman wrestling team coach Akif Aliyev, Paralympic athlete Ilham Zakiyev and Greco-Roman wrestler Rasul Chunayev.

Following the speeches the Azerbaijani athletes took the Olympic oath, and President Aliyev posed for photographs with the athletes.

President Aliyev later signed an order to award Azerbaijani athletes who will win medals at the 31st Summer Olympics and 15th Paralympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as well as their coaches.

Under the presidential order, the amount of rewards for Olympic athletes and their coaches is defined. Each athlete who will win the first place will receive 400,000 manats ($254,858) and his coach 200,000 manats ($127,429). Each athlete who will take the second place will take 200,000 manats ($127,429) in reward and his coach 100, 000 manats ($63,714). Each athlete who will take the third place will be given 100, 000 manats ($63,714) and his coach 50,000 manats ($31,857).

The amount of rewards for Paralympic athletes and their coaches was also defined. Each athlete who will win the first place will receive 200,000 manats ($127,429) and his coach 100, 000 manats ($63,714). Each athlete who will take the second place will be given 100, 000 manats ($63,714) and his coach 50,000 manats ($31,857). Each athlete who will take the third place will take 50,000 manats ($31,857) in reward and his coach – 25,000 manats ($15,928).

The 2016 Summer Olympics is a major international multi-sport event in the tradition of the Olympic Games that will take place in Brazilian Rio de Janeiro from August 5 to August 21, 2016. More than 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees are expected to join this big sporting event.

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