IN THE SPORT CAPITALS

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan has launched an extraordinary project for the new year. It has selected the cities that will be the country's sports capitals in 2024 and 2025. Guba will hold this title in 2024, followed by Gabala in 2025.

The Guba - Sports Capital 2024 presentation was attended by the ministry's leaders, Guba district officials, and the country's sports community. They introduced the Fuji mascot to the Guba residents. Then, Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gaibov handed over the symbolic key to the sports capital to the district head Ilgar Mahmudov.

Guba welcomes the world

The Sport Capital Project aims to spread the country's sports development from Baku to the regions. Azerbaijan is well-known as a sporting country in the world. Baku hosts world and European championships in various sports every year, as well as tournaments. This project will upgrade the infrastructure in the regions and organise competitions outside the capital.

Minister Gaibov explained the importance of the project: "Guba was chosen as the sports capital of 2024 for a reason. This year, we will have training camps and events in various sports here."

He added that more than 20 sports federations are participating in the event, and that Guba will host all kinds of competitions throughout the year: "We will also have international tournaments in Guba this year. The state has created the conditions to organise competitions of different levels here."

He recalled that last year, the Guba complex was the most active sports facility in the country, and said: "One of the four 50-metre swimming pools in the country is here. We plan to create the same conditions and do reconstruction works in other complexes. Many complexes have been fully renovated. New sports facilities have also been opened in the capital and the regions. We believe that this will help our sport to grow and attract new athletes to our national teams in various sports".

After the makeover

The district head of Guba also shared his views on Guba being the Sports Capital. Mr Mahmudov said that this step would boost the development of sports in the district: "More than 8,000 young people are involved in sports in Guba. Some of them have achieved high results. We hope that this year, there will be more achievements. All sports federations plan to hold competitions here. The project will benefit the people of Guba. More people will participate in sports. We hope that more Guba residents will join various national teams. We want to hear about them from European and world championships."

The Guba Olympic sports complex has been fully rebuilt and can host any prestigious sports competitions. The Sport Capital project will also create opportunities for teenagers to take part in qualifying competitions in Guba in 2024. And promising athletes from Guba will be sent to the relevant clubs and teams.

The first competitions under the motto Guba - Sports Capital 2024 have already been held. The Azerbaijan Mountaineering Federation organised a climb to the Shahdag Mountain. They also held a master class on mountaineering during the hike.