675 MEDALS IN 365 DAYS

The year 2010 was quite successful for Azerbaijani sports. Our athletes defended the country's sporting honour with credit, winning a record number of honours. The 675 medals won last year set a new record in the history of Azerbaijani sport.

A no less remarkable factor is that Olympic sports are more competitive every year. 

How else was 2010 remembered? Despite his busy schedule, Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov kindly agreed to answer our questions.

- I am very proud to list the achievements of Azerbaijani athletes in the outgoing year. For the first time our athletes won 675 medals in various competitions. This is a very high number. Imagine that in different countries around the world, the Azerbaijani flag was raised twice a day. Gymnasts, wrestlers, judokas, boxers and rowers lived up to our expectations. Chess players, kickboxers, sambo wrestlers and representatives of other sports all returned home with medals. These facts suggest that Azerbaijani sports are in a period of rapid development.

- Perhaps, the most significant sporting event of the year was the Youth Olympics...

- I agree. In 2010, Singapore hosted the first Youth Olympics. In this representative competition, Azerbaijani sportsmen wrote their names in history in the true sense of the word. This is proved by their eight medals - 5 gold and 3 silver medals. These guys are our future. Previous champions were known as fosterlings of the Soviet school, but the young athletes who participated in these Olympics were born in independent Azerbaijan. Our success in Singapore was a sporting event without exaggeration.

- Along with the successes, there are some sports in which there was no notable progress. What changes are expected in this field?

- Several Olympic sports complexes were commissioned in 2010. The construction of new arenas will continue in the future. Due to President Ilham Aliyev's constant attention, it will be possible to engage in sports at the highest level in every region. Regarding your question, I can only say what we are thinking. One example is that there are no swimming pools of high standard in the country. We are planning new pool complexes where it will be possible to develop water sports.

- 2010 left a mark on our football. Many emphasize the victory over Turkey. It would be interesting to hear your opinion on this.

- Today Azerbaijan is taking important steps in the development of its football. Fans should be patient. Unlike many other sports, in football you have to wait for quite some time for success, i.e. it is impossible to achieve success in a very short period. Special attention is now being given to children's football. When these children grow up, it will be easier for us. I think we have to wait several more years. The victory over the Turkish national team made us all very happy. I would like the national team to perform as well more often.

- By the way, the official opening of sweepstakes was expected in 2010. But apparently, it will happen in 2011 ...

- There are just a few adjustments to be made. Once they are settled, sweepstakes will operate in accordance with the rules. This will probably happen in late January. You know, the important thing is not the deadline, but a high level of organisation. Bets on competitions taking place in Azerbaijan will not be accepted for some time.

- There are two years to go before the Summer Olympic Games in London. How are our athletes preparing for them?

- To participate in the Summer Olympics is the dream of every athlete. Basic training will begin when qualifying tournaments are held in various sports. The main aim is to qualify. And then, planned training will begin. We would like to earn more places than at the Summer Games in Beijing.

- Perhaps, Azerbaijani wrestlers will remember 2010 more than anyone else...

- Our wrestlers have accustomed us to great victories. Their success in European and World Championships suggests that wrestling is the best developing sport in Azerbaijan. At the last European Championship in Baku, the wrestlers fully justified our hopes, repeating their achievement at the Moscow World Championship. That is why they include the majority of victors during the year.

- The gymnast Aliya Qarayeva was also among the top ten athletes of the year...

- The Gymnastics Federation has done a great job in popularizing the sport in our country. In 2010, Aliya made great strides forward. As you know, Russia and Ukraine also enjoy high reputations in gymnastics. However, Azerbaijani gymnasts have already forced their rivals to reckon with them. I hope they win Olympic medals. We are pleased with their success at the European and World Championships. Hopefully, in London, we will win our first Olympic medal in this sport. The federation has now begun to build a base in which a special room for appropriate contests will be created.

- And how are things in non-Olympic sports?

- Performances in this area are also encouraging. We have won many medals in sambo, karate and kickboxing. I stress that we are interested in the comprehensive development of sport in Azerbaijan and, therefore, we pay attention to all sports. We cannot confine ourselves to sports represented at the Olympics. This is proved by the fact that the top ten athletes of the year include representatives of non-Olympic sports.

- As you mentioned, 2011 promises to place great responsibility on Azerbaijani athletes - the main struggle for Olympic qualification will begin in 2011. What are your expectations?

- First of all, I greet all our people on World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the New Year, and I wish everyone good health and happiness. I wish our athletes new achievements in sports in 2011 when the names of the athletes who will travel to the Olympic Games in London will be determined in most sports. Good luck to the coaches, too. Indeed, further progress depends on their work in many respects. I would like to add that Baku will host a number of prestigious competitions in the coming year. I am confident that they will be held at the highest level.