Azernews.Az

The first group consisting of 32 Azerbaijani athletes left for London Tuesday to take part in the 2012 summer Olympics. Members of the Azerbaijani official delegation, head coaches and doctors accompany the sportsmen.

The second group will leave for London on August 4, spokesperson for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Samaya Mammadova said.

She said that the Azerbaijani flag will be raised at the Olympic village and the country will be greeted on Wednesday.

The London Olympics will officially start on Friday. Up to 10,000 athletes from over 200 countries will contest 302 medals during the 16-day tournament.

Olympic champion, judoka Elnur Mammadli will carry the Azerbaijani flag at the opening ceremony of the Games.

An event on Azerbaijan will be held in London on Saturday. Video clips dedicated to the national cuisine will be screened. Opera, jazz and Mugham (national folk music) singers will perform during the event.

Azerbaijan`s Olympic team will be represented by 53 athletes in 16 sports, 41 of whom will participate in the Olympic Games for the first time. The Azerbaijani team, along with the athletes, includes six doctors and 29 coaches.

Azerbaijani athletes for the first time will take part in five new sports -- canoeing, rowing, cycling, gymnastics and fencing -- at the London Summer Olympics.

President Ilham Aliyev in early July enacted a decree allocating money awards to Azerbaijani athletes who will win medals at the London Olympics. Each gold medalist will receive 400,000 manats (around $510,000) and his coach - 200,000 manats; silver medalists will be awarded 200,000 manats and their coaches - 100,000 manats; and bronze winners - 100,000 manats and their coaches - half of the amount.