FOR REPORTING BY REPORTERS

Accustomed to authoritative sporting events, Baku has not disregarded journalists covering them. The capital of Azerbaijan has hosted the 77th Congress of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), which coincided with the 90th anniversary of this organization. In Baku, the congress was attended by media representatives from 180 countries.

At the reception in honour of the 77th AIPS Congress, the Azerbaijani president congratulated the association on the 90th anniversary and noted that the holding of this event in Baku is of great importance, including in terms of the possibility of representing the country.

He noted that in the 22 years of independence, Azerbaijan has achieved great success as a whole, which fully applies to achievements in the development of sports and support for the Olympic Movement.

"We organized in Azerbaijan numerous international competitions, including European and world championships. Our athletes have achieved good results in the international arena. We first participated in the Summer Olympics in 1996. Then we won only one medal. At the last Olympic Games in London, we won 10 medals, of which two were gold. We took 30th place among more than 200 countries. This is a manifestation of the development of sports and the attitude of government and public organizations to the development of sports," the president said.

He noted that investments have been made in the development of the sports infrastructure, which was completely destroyed in the first years of independence, and more than 40 Olympic centres have been built, and this process is still ongoing.

"As you know, next year we will host the first European Games. It's a big responsibility and challenge. At the same time, it is an opportunity to represent our country, as well as to demonstrate that through appropriate policies, commitments and strong political will, it is possible to hold the first European Games in a country that recently appeared on the political map. We plan to hold these games at the level of Olympic Games," the president of Azerbaijan said.

AIPS President Gianni Merlo praised the celebration of the 90th anniversary and 77th Congress of the organization. He noted that his association is taking many measures for the development of sports, including socially-oriented sports. He expressed confidence in the high level of the first European games to be held in Baku next year.

"When 3.5 years ago, Azerbaijan won the right to host the congress, I was sure that everything would be very well-organized. And today, we saw this for ourselves. We saw the hospitality of your country," Merlo said.

He presented President Ilham Aliyev with a special commemorative gift of the International Sports Press Association.

Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov informed the Congress about the holding of international competitions in the country, the success of Azerbaijani sportsmen in the Olympic Games, world and European championships and other tournaments and said that next year Azerbaijan will host the first ever European Games that will be organized at the highest level.

During the congress, a presentation of the European Games Baku-2015 was held and detailed information about preparations for them was presented. The media in 180 countries reported about the first European Games.

During the congress, the status of the sports press in the world was discussed, the reports of the financial and other commissions were approved and a new AIPS Executive Committee was elected, which also includes the president of the Association of Sports Journalism of Azerbaijan, Eldar Ismayilov.

The AIPS Congress participants also familiarized themselves with sports arenas where competitions of the European Games will be held, the Olympic Village and the construction of the Olympic Stadium. Journalists from 180 countries participating in the representative congress were invited to the European Games to be held next year.