THE OLYMPIC SEASON

Only a few days remain until the start of the world's largest sporting event. The 31^st Summer Olympic Games will be launched at the Maracana Stadium of Rio de Janeiro on August 5. The most prestigious competition of the planet will bring together over 10,000 athletes from a record number of 206 countries. For the first time ever, the competitions will have the team of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) represented by athletes from Kosovo, Southern Sudan and ten athletes who have renounced citizenship. The event will last 16 days with 301 sets of medals distributed among the competitors. This first South American Olympic Games will be held only in Rio de Janeiro. Only the football matches of the tournament will be held in the cities of Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Salvador, and Rio.

2488 medals, including 812 gold and silver medals, as well as 864 bronze medals were made for this remarkable competition. Each medal weighs 500 grams. The gold medals have no impurities, even mercury. The silver medals contain 30% of the reprocessed materials.

The representatives from 55 countries of the world will ensure the security of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. According to official statement by IOC, the security personnel has conducted a wide-ranging review of everyone associated with the Olympics. The collected data contains information about all 400 thousands of people, including the volunteers, journalists and officials. 250 police officers from 55 countries will help the armed forces and police forces of Brazil. The officials of intelligence services of the US, Belgium, and France will assist in the prevention of the threats of terror.

Most likely, the Olympic Games in Rio will be marked in history as a competition with the largest number of problems. The International Olympic Committee said that Brazil was never able to fully prepare for the Olympics, and warned that in the course of the competition may be some problems. Last year, after discussions on the transfer of the venue, the IOC finally agreed to host the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. In addition, the organization even had provided financial support to start the Games at the scheduled time.

Rio 2016 will also be remembered with doping scandals. It has been revealed that in most of the participating countries the athletes had enjoyed illicit drugs. The team of weightlifters from Azerbaijan has also been exposed. The canoeists from Belarus and Romania were barred from Rio Olympics. The famous Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova and the whole team of Russian athletes were also barred from the Games over doping offences. The whole Russian team was under a threat but IOC has not disqualified the entire country, having delegated the decision on the admission of certain Russian athletes to the Games to various international federations.

One of the mascots of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro is a cat-like bright yellow animal. It represents the fauna of Brazil. The second mascot is a green creature with hair resembling palm leaves. The organizers intend to use these mascots as the main source of their income, execting to earn $389 million from the sold souvenirs and attributes. The mascots’ names are Tom and Vinicius.

Summer Olympic Games will be broadcast live in many countries of the world. It is expected that the final games will be watched simultaneously in 175 countries. The time zone difference between Europe and Brazil will not affect the income from television broadcasts. In general, the IOC has accredited 2,200 journalists to cover the Games.

As was announced by the Azerbaijani Minister for Youth and Sports Mr. Azad Rahimov during his speech at the farewell ceremony, Azerbaijan will be represented by 56 athletes in 18 sports. According to him, for the first time in history Azerbaijan will also be represented in four extra fields of sport. The team is made up mainly of award-winning athletes. There will be also three referees representing Azerbaijan at the Rio Games. Minister Rahimov added that the preparatory process for the Rio 2016 was a success. Athletes are provided with drugs against the virus Zico and other medical facilities.

"The development of the Azerbaijani sport is an indicator of our overall development", said President of Azerbaijan and the head of the National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev during his speech at the official farewell ceremony of the Azerbaijani delegation to the 31^st Summer Olympic Games. He stressed that the participation of 56 athletes is a record for Azerbaijan. Expressing his confidence that they will adequately represent the country, the president also noted that the athletes are constantly delighted with their success in international competitions, including the world and European championships.

"Azerbaijan is a country of sports. This is accepted by the whole world and the sports community. We carry out a deliberate policy associated with the sport, the Olympic movement in Azerbaijan. As a result of this policy, today we can talk about our success. A sound policy, purposeful work turned the sport into an important social factor in Azerbaijan society. Today, the athletes are greatly respected in our society. The athletes have a worthy place in society. The number of those wishing to engage in sports is gradually increasing. The main reason is the success of our athletes and the government’s support to about them", said president Aliyev.

Azerbaijani President also signed a decree on bonuses for athletes who have achieved high levels at the 31^st Summer Olympic and the 15^th Paralympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. So, the first comers will receive 400 thousand manats, and their coaches 200 thousand manats. The silver medalists and their coaches will be paid 200 and 100 thousand manats, respectively. The bronze winners and their coaches will receive 100 and 50 thousand manats, respectively.

In addition, each athlete and his coach winning the first place at the 15^th Paralympic Summer Games will receive 200 and 100 thousand manats, respectively. The silver medalists - 100 and 50 thousand manats. The bronze medalists – 50 and 25 thousand manats.

In previous competitions, in which Azerbaijan participated as a sovereign state, the country was represented as follows: Atlanta-1996 - 23, Sydney-2000 - 31, Athens-2004 - 36, Beijing-2008 – 44, and London-2012 - 53 athletes.

And now let’s take a look at our athletes who will participate in the Rio 2016.

The boxing competitions will have 11 sportsmen including Yana Alekseyeva as a woman boxer.

Our men boxers are Rufat Huseynov (49 kg), Elvin Mamishzadeh (52 kg), Javid Chalabiyev (56 kg), Albert Salimov (60 kg), Lorenzo Sotomayor (64 kg), Parviz Baghirov (69 kg), Kamran Shahsuvarly (75kg), Teymur Mammadov (81 kg), Abdulgadir Abdullayev (91 kg), Mahammadrasul Majidov (91 kg).

In athletics: Anna Skidan will compete for a medal in hammer throwing, Nazim Babayev - in triple jump, Hayle Ibrahimov - in racing for 5,000 meters, Evans Kiplagat - in marathon.

Our rowing athletes: Alexander Alexandrov / Boris Yotov (rowing 200 m deuce), Valentin Demyanenko (canoe, 200 m), Inna Osipenko-Rodomska (kayak, 200 and 500 m), Yura Meglich (canoe slalom)

Azerbaijan will be represented by a large team of wrestlers. In particular, in the Greco-Roman wrestling: Elvin Mursaliev (75 kg), Rovshan Bayramov (59 kg), Rasul Junayev (66 kg), Sabah Shariati (130 kg), Saman Tahmasib (85 kg). Our female wrestlers: Maria Stadnik (48 kg), Natalya Snishin (53 kg) and Yuliya Ratkevich (58 kg).

Finally, our free-style wrestlers will be Togrul Asgarov (57 kg), Sharif Sharifov (86 kg), Khetag Gazumov (97 kg), Jamaladdin Magomedov (125 kg), and Jabrail Hasanov (74 kg).

In rhythmic gymnastics: Marina Durunda, and in gymnastics: Oleg Stepko, Peter Pahnyuk.

Four taekwondo athletes: Radik Isayev (80 kg), Milad Beigi Harchegani (80 kg), Patimat Abakarova (49 kg), and Farid Azizov (67 kg).

Three athletes will represent the country in cycling: Maxim Averin (highway), Yelena Pavlyuhina (highway) and Olga Ismayilova (Keirin track, sprint track)

In fencing: Sabina Mikina, triathlon - Rostislav Pevtsov, archery - Olga Senyuk, skeet shooting - Ruslan Lunev, swimming - Fatima Alkarimova (100 m freestyle) and Boris Kirillov (200 m backstroke).

The large-scale delegation will be represented in judo: Orkhan Safarov (60 kg), Nijat Shikhalizadeh (66 kg), Rustam Orujov (73 kg), Mammadali Mehdiyev (90 kg), Elmar Gasimov (100 kg), Kokauri Usangi (100 kg).

At the Paralympic Games, Azerbaijan will be represented by 18 athletes, of which 7 are judomen Ramin Ibrahimov (60 kg), Bayram Mustafayev (66 kg), Ramil Gasimov (73 kg), Rovshan Safarov (81 kg), Kanan Abdulkhanly (100 kg), Ilham Zakiev (over 100 kg), Sabina Abdullayeva (57 kg).

Dmitry and Roman Salei will take part in swimming competition. Our powerlifters will be Razm Azar and Elshan Huseynov. Kamil Aliyev and Elchin Muradov - in the long jump; Irada Aliyeva, Yelena Chebanu, Rufat Rafiyev and Elmir Jabrayilov – athletics; and Yelena Taranova - shooting at 10 m.

The flag-bearer of the Azerbaijani team will be the bronze medalist of the Summer Olympic Games in London, the European boxing champion Teymur Mammadov.

The opening ceremony of the 31^st Olympic Games will be held on August 5 at the Maracana stadium. This prestigious competition will end on August 21^st.