SPORT CALENDAR

For the sports community in Azerbaijan, the year 2015 was the most memorable and important in the light of the 1st European Games. However, a series of important competitions awaits Azerbaijani athletes in 2016 as well. This year will also be very important in terms of sports events to be held in Azerbaijan.

The new year will be a landmark for the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Fede-ration. Baku's candidacy, nominated by the federation, for world cup competitions in three types of gymnastics has been approved. Baku will host the gymnastics world cup in the Challenge Cup series on 19-21 February 2016. Almost immediately afterwards, on 5-6 March, trampoline competitions will be held as part of the world cup. We should note that Baku will be the first city to host competitions in these two types of gymnastics in 2016. The Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup will be held on 22-24 July, ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. In contrast to the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, competitions in which were already held in this country in 2003-05, it will be the first time that sport gymnastics and trampoline competitions will be organized on this level in Azerbaijan.

In February, Azerbaijan's only professional boxing club, Baku Fires, will join the fight in season four of the World Series Boxing. The series, in which 16 countries participate, will be completed in May.

Also in February, Azerbaijan's national futsal team will try their strength in the group stage of the European championship to be held in Serbia. Our first opponent will be the Italian team, and then the national team will play against the Czechs. Both matches will be held in Belgrade.

In March, Baku will host a European qualifying boxing tournament. Winners of the tournament, in which representatives from more than 20 countries will compete, will win tickets to Rio 2016.

In May, Baku will host the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals. The finals will last 10 days and identify on the football fields of Baku the strongest on the continent. Azerbaijan's national team will participate in this prestigious competition as well.

In May, fans in Baku will be able to watch an international judo competition from the Grand Slam series. About 400 athletes from more than 50 countries will participate in the tournament. The tournament is also a qualifier for the Summer Olympics. Winners will get 500 ranking points.

On 17-19 June, Baku will for the first time in its history host the queen of motorsport - Formula One. Azadliq Square will be the launch pad for the European Grand Prix and the venue for grandstands and a pit stop. The race will take place in central parts of Baku - Neftcilar Avenue, the Govern-ment House, the Old Town, and the Maiden's Tower. The competition in Baku will be a landmark event in Formula One's calendar. Azerbaijan's wish to create a grand circuit layout for this race was also welcomed by the head of the Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone: "We are very happy that Baku has joined the Formula One family. This will be a street race, which will pass through interesting and picturesque parts of Baku. The event will meet the current Formula One criteria."

In June, France will host a large football competition of the year - the strongest teams of the continent will be competing in Euro 2016. The tournament, which Azerbaijani footballers will be watching as fans, will leave unforgettable impressions for people who love this sport.

In August 2016, the world will focus its attention on the grandest contest on the planet - the Summer Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Azerbaijani athletes have so far earned 28 berths for these games. However, it is expected that their number will exceed 50, as most berths will be handed out in 2016. Therefore, we hope that a large number of athletes will represent our country in the 2016 Olympic Games.

Azerbaijan's capital city will be in the global spotlight after the Summer Olympic Games. Baku will host a Chess Olympiad. Over 3,000 chess players, who will be members of approximately 200 teams from 175 countries, will compete in the event. The Chess Olympiad at the grand Crystal Hall will last 12 days. Azerbaijan will be represented by a total of six male and female teams. In terms of the number of countries, the Chess Olympiad will be the largest sporting event ever held in Azerbai-jan.

Youth and Sport Minister Azad Rahimov said he hoped that national athletes would be successful: "In 2016, our country will host several prestigious competitions. In May, Baku will host the Junior European Championship in football. That will be the most prestigious football competition held in Baku. In June, our capital city will host a Formula One competition for the first time. We are almost completely prepared for it. In August, Azerbaijani sportsmen will take part in the Summer Olympics. And the last prestigious competition of the year will be the Chess Olympiad. As you know, more than 3,000 athletes, visitors, coaches and journalists are expected to arrive in Baku. Certainly, a difficult and intense season awaits us. However, our athletes have for many years performed with such intensity. Each competition is important to us. We will try to defend Azerbaijan's sports honour in each tournament in a worthy manner. We believe that the competitions in Baku will be organized at the highest level."