RICH CALENDAR FOR 2023

This year, we can expect a number of prestigious sport competitions. The new year is also important in terms of securing licences for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. As before, Azerbaijan will continue to host major sporting events in 2023.

Intensive spring season

The first big event of the year will take place in February. On February 18-19, Baku will host the World Cup in Trampoline Gymnastics. The Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation will organise another world cup in artistic gymnastics on March 9-12. The international boxing tournament Great Silk Road-2023 is also slated for March 2023.

In April, Azerbaijan will host the European Junior Tennis Tournament in memory of Heydar Aliyev. Baku will welcome some 200 famous rhythmic gymnasts from more than 30 countries to participate in the International Gymnastics Federation's World Cup on April 21-23. They will compete in separate disciplines and multiathlon for three days. In keeping with tradition, the gymnasts and group exercise teams with highest scores will be awarded the AGF Trophy Cup.

By the way, this will be the 10th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup. Azerbaijan had hosted world championships and cups in this sport more than once.

On April 28-30, Baku will also host the Azerbaijan Grand Prix of the Formula One World Championship. It will be the seventh event held in Baku. The innovation of F-1 will be the sprint race, which, in addition to Azerbaijan, will also be introduced at the Grand Prixes in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, USA (Austin) and Qatar. The Baku sprint race will be the first this season. The organising committee has already started interviews with volunteer candidates, whose number has increased by almost 20% compared to last year reaching 9,500. Of these, 1,500 of the most active volunteers will then be selected to be involved in various areas of activity during the competition.

May will also be rich in international sporting events. For instance, the President's Cup in rowing will be held in Sugovushan and Mingechevir in the early days of the month. The World Cup of Shooting will be held in Baku on May 4-15. On May 6-7, the European Judo Cup among juniors will be held in Goygol. The international handball tournament dedicated to the memory of Heydar Aliyev will be held in Baku on May 8-13.

On May 17-21, Baku will host for the fifth time (2007, 2009, 2014, 2019) the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship. The event will be held at the National Gymnastics Arena. The four-day tournament will feature adult gymnasts and youth teams in the individual and group exercise programmes, respectively. The first day of the competition will begin with the youth teams performing in the group exercise programme.

In addition, a world taekwondo championship is planned for late May. A number of international competitions will start this month, including weightlifting, chess and basketball. We also expect the holding of several other tournaments: the Baku Cup (sailing), the Silver European League (volleyball) and Əziz Şuşa (cycling). The geography of cycling competitions this time spans a bigger territory, covering Baku, Ismayilli, Gabala, Ganja and Shusha.

Summer discoveries

On July 29-August 6, Baku will host a delightful basketball competition—the first ever continental youth basketball championship for U18 teams. The teams to compete in the event organised by the International Basketball Federation will be known soon.

On July 29, Baku will also host the World Chess Cup for the second time in seven years. The event will include more than 200 chess players. The first three places will qualify for the Candidates' Tournament for the title of the world champion.

The European 17-year-old girls' handball championship in Baku is slated for August 5-13. And the summer season will conclude with the World Shooting Championship.

Autumn of licenses

The attention of judo fans will be focused once again on Baku in September. The month will open with the Grand Slam judo tournament (to also draw the Olympic licences), followed by the Grand Prix in parajudo. Shusha will also host an international chess competition for the second time.

The Mingachevir Regatta will be held in September and October.  The prestigious event will be attended by around 100 competitors from 20 countries.

The traditional Budo festival of Japanese martial arts is scheduled to take place in Baku in December. Visitors will be able to experience a number of traditional Japanese sports, including but not limited to karate, judo, aikido, and kendo. There will also be visiting stands related to Japanese culture and sports.

In addition to the above-mentioned competitions, Azerbaijan will also host a number of qualification games for the European Football Championship, as well as football and volleyball  matches for European cups.

Please note that some of the listed competitions will reveal the names of athletes licensed for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. The goal of most of the events is to increase mass participation in sports and to ensure that the athletes receive relevant international experience.