ON THE WAY TO OLYMPUS

The past year was rich in momentous events for Azerbaijani sports. The series of high-profile achievements of local athletes was accompanied by the development of the sports infrastructure. The mere number of Olympic complexes in 2011 reached 33. Another 10 such facilities will be commissioned in the coming years. Last year, Azerbaijan hosted 42 international sporting events, including World and European championships. At the same time, the country held 415 local competitions in 84 sports, which were attended by about 100 thousand athletes from all the regions of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani athletes were sent to 139 European and world championships, 39 World Cups, 18 European Cups, 12 Grand Prix and 67 other international tournaments.

If Azerbaijani sportsmen ended 2010 with 675 medals (206 in Olympic and 469 in non-Olympic sports), in 2011, 705 medals were won in 276 Olympic and 429 in non-Olympic sports.

One of the main goals in the past year was to earn the maximum number of licences for the Olympic Games in London. To date, Azerbaijani sportsmen have won 28 licences in 10 sports. It is projected that 15-20 more licences will be won in 2012. Azerbaijani Paralympians also have 18 licences.

2011 was particularly successful for judo wrestlers, boxers, gymnasts, wrestlers, volleyball players and chess players. The Olympic champion, Elnur Mammadov, became a two-time European champion this year. Azerbaijani boxing also got its own world champion after a long hiatus - the highest step of the podium was taken by Mahammadrasul Macidov. The bronze medal won by Aliya Qarayeva at the World Championship in Rhythmic Gymnastics is also a significant achievement. The wrestlers, Rovsan Bayramov and Sarif Sarifov, also successfully completed the year, becoming world champions. In team sports, Azerbaijani volleyball players distinguished themselves. Azerrail won the Challenge Cup and Rabita - the Club World Championship. Azerbaijani chess players do not lag behind the volleyball players. The SOCAR club won the silver at the European Club Cup. The names of the best athletes of 2011 were announced by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the light of these and other results.

By tradition, at the end of 2011, the Azerbaijani president and head of the National Olympic Committee, Ilham Aliyev, held a meeting with athletes. This time, it was held at the new Sumqayit Olympic Complex opened by the president. Assessing the past year as successful for Azerbaijani sport as a whole, the head of state also spoke about the tasks for 2012. One of the priorities, of course, is to win the maximum number of licences for the Summer Olympic Games in London. The president expressed confidence that during the Olympic Games, Azerbaijani athletes will perform no worse than in the fight for places. "In 2011, Azerbaijani sportsmen won more than 700 medals. Most of these medals were won in Olympic sports. These achievements allow our athletes to expect greater achievements in London. I am confident that at the Olympic Games, Azerbaijani sportsmen will protect the sport honour of the country with credit," President Aliyev said.

Another equally important challenge facing Azerbaijan is the organization of the women's world football championship among 17-year-olds in Baku. President Aliyev expressed confidence that this tournament will be organized at a high level.

Thus, ahead of us is a year that will be no less rich in sporting events. We can only hope that Azerbaijani athletes will continue to live up to high expectations and the high attention that the state is paying to sports.