LEADER OF OLYMPISM IN AZERBAIJAN

Over recent years, Azerbaijan has proven itself as a sports power. Numerous international sport events held in Azerbaijan, as well as the successful performance of national athletes at various olympiads, world and European championships have strengthened the country's image globally.

The basis of this success was laid twenty years ago on July 31, 1997 by the election of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as the head of the National Olympic Committee (NOC).

In the early 1990s, due to lack of funds Azerbaijani athletes could not participate even at competitions, which they were eligible for. In 1992-1997, the activities of the NOC could not be considered satisfactory. The state authorities had to take over the main role in the development of sports.

At that time, the Organizing Committee for the preparation for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 was established. Only government agencies were involved in the preparation for the Olympic Games. Neither the leadership nor the sports community of the country were happy with the existing situation. At a regular general convention of the NOC held on July 31, 1997, it became clear that some of the talented athletes and coaches had left the country. The participation of athletes in training and competitions, their social situation was very poor. The NOC had no connections with sports organizations both at local and international levels. As a result, the General Assembly elected the new Executive Committee of the NOC. The then First Vice-President of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Member of Parliament (Milli Majlis) Ilham Aliyev was elected the Committee’s first president.

Having evaluated the existing situation and the ways of development, NOC has immediately proceeded to action. It studied the real state of the Olympic movement, identified and analyzed the existing problems. The establishment and expansion of international relations was of particular importance among other priorities.

That period is considered the beginning of the rise in the propaganda of physical culture and sports. Azerbaijan joined the international Olympic movement, and started systematic works in this area. Now Azerbaijan is a regular host for various world and European championships and other international tournaments including rhythmic gymnastics, taekwondo, wrestling, boxing, karate and other Olympic sports. The holding of the First European Games, the World Chess Olympiad, Islamic Solidarity Games, Formula-1, as well as the right to host the matches of the final stage of the European Football Championship 2020 in Azerbaijan is a clear proof of the growing interest in the country from the world sports community.

Azerbaijan maintains close ties with all sports authorities of the world, including such prestigious organizations as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the European Olympic Committee (EOC). These ties have constantly expanded during the recent years.

The NOC activities were not limited to promoting the ideals of the Olympic movement and ensuring the participation of athletes in the Olympiads. It has also contributed to the strengthening of the material and technical base. To ensure the accelerated development of sports in Azerbaijan and expand its prospects, it was necessary to ensure fundamental improvement of the existing material and technical base. Since 1999, NOC has started construction of its own facilities, and in October 2000, the opening ceremony of the first Olympic complex took place in Baku. The creative work that began in the capital covered the regions as well. The introduction of Olympic complexes in regions plays an extremely important role in the development of sports in Azerbaijan. In general, more than forty Olympic sports complexes, as well as specialized sports facilities have been constructed and commissioned in Azerbaijan since 2000, and the existing sports facilities have been reconstructed. The Olympic complexes operate almost in all regions of the republic. Even the most remote regions of Azerbaijan have necessary conditions for practicing various kinds of sports.

Currently Azerbaijan has the largest sports facilities in Europe. So, in 2015, the tournaments of the First European Games held in our capital took place on 18 arenas that meet world standards and are capable of holding host competitions of any scale.

Just three years after Ilham Aliyev was elected president of NOC (2000), Azerbaijani athletes performed at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney and achieved excellent results. Azerbaijan took part in the Olympic Games as a sovereign state for the second time and was represented by 31 athletes. As a result, our shooter Zemfira Meftaheddinova and wrestler Namig Abdullayev won gold medals, and boxer Vugar Alekberov won the bronze medal. Azerbaijan was ranked the 34^th in overall team standings, and the 23^rd among European countries.

At the 28^th Summer Olympic Games in 2004 in Athens, the Azerbaijani team was represented by 38 sportsmen in 12 sports, and returned home with triumph, having 1 gold and 4 bronze medals. Farid Mansurov, a wrestler, won the gold medal. Pistol and trap shootersg Irada Ashurov and Zemfira Meftaheddinova, as well as boxers Aghasi Mammadov and Fuad Aslanov won the bronze medals.

At the 29^th Summer Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, Azerbaijan was represented by 44 sportsmen in 12 sports. Judoka Elnur Mammadli brought gold medal to Azerbaijan. Wrestlers Rovshan Bayramov and Vitaly Rahimov won silver medals. Free-style wrestlers Khetag Gazyumov, Maria Stadnik, boxer Shahin Imranov and judoka Movlud Miraliyev were awarded bronze medals. As a result, with 7 medals (1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals), the Azerbaijani national team was ranked the 27^th, and the 39^th among 202 teams by the number of medals.

At the 2012 Olympics in London, Azerbaijani athletes won ten medals and were ranked the 30th in medal standings, and the 25th by the total number of medals among 204 participating teams. With 2 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze medals in the national team, Azerbaijan was the 15th among the European teams and the 5th among the teams of the CIS countries. In London, the wrestlers Togrul Askerov and Sharif Sharifov won gold, and Rovshan Bayramov and Maria Stadnik won silver medals. Other wrestlers - Emin Ahmedov, Yulia Radkevich and Khetag Gazyumov won bronze medals. In addition, weightlifter Valentin Khristov and boxers Teimur Mammadov and Magomedrasul Majidov won 3 bronze medals.

At the 31^st Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, our athletes won 18 medals (1 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze). Taekwondoka Radik Isayev won the only gold medal. Silver medals were awarded to wrestlers Togrul Askerov, Khetag Gazyumov, Maria Stadnik, boxer Lorenzo Sotomayor, judokas Rustam Orujov and Elmar Gasimov, and canoeist Alexander Demyanenko. The bronze medalists were taekwondokas Patimat Abakarova and Milad Beigi Harchegani, boxer Kamran Shahsuvarli, wrestlers Rasul Junaev, Sabah Shariati, Natalya Sinishin, Haji Aliyev, Jabrayil Hasanov, Sharif Sharifov, and Inna Osipenko-Radomskaya in canoe and kayak rowing.

Once again, the attention and concern of the state about sports and athletes at the First European Games were justified. More than 6000 athletes from 50 countries of the continent attended this majestic sporting event. Standards of the First European Games opened a new page in the history of Europe. At the Games, our national team won 21 gold, 15 silver and 20 bronze medals, was ranked the second strongest team of the continent and demonstrated its strength.

Although the preparation for the Summer Olympic Games normally requires seven to eight years, Azerbaijan had only 2.5 years to prepare for the First European Games. Led by the First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, the Organizing Committee has managed to create a new infrastructure in Baku in such a short time, to complete all preparation works for the European Games quickly and at the highest level.

In less than three years, five new sports complexes were constructed and commissioned: the Baku Olympic Stadium, the National Gymnastics Arena, the Baku Shooting Center, the Baku Water Sports Palace and the Bicycle Park. Other sports facilities were completely reconstructed and brought into line with the most modern standards.

By organizing the competitions in accordance with the highest world standards, Azerbaijan once again demonstrated that those who believed in the possibilities of our country were right. Even centuries after the First European Games, the largest sports competition of that year, the whole world will always mention the name of the city of Baku.

At the Islamic Solidarity Games held in Baku in 2017, our national team set a new record, winning 162 medals. Despite the fact that Azerbaijan lagged behind Turkey in the total number of medals (195), the team became the winner of Islamiad by the total number of medals. Thus, for the first time in its history, Azerbaijan took the title of the winner of the multi-sport competition.

During the leadership of Ilham Aliyev as the president of NOC, the organization has established strong cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as with all sport federations. The relevant organizations began to act as a team for the development of sport.

The results achieved over the past twenty years demonstrate that Azerbaijan is able to achieve even greater success in the future. Today every national athlete feels the care of NOC, and strives to bring home a medal from any competition.

As the leader of the Olympic movement, President Ilham Aliyev has demonstrated to the whole world the sporting authority of Azerbaijan. That is why the national athletes believe in even brighter victories in the future.