YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENTS

A ceremony celebrating the sporting achievements of 2024 was held in Baku on December 24. The event was attended by the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the National Olympic Committee, Ilham Aliyev. He congratulated Azerbaijani athletes on their accomplishments this year, stating: "The year 2024 has been another successful one for Azerbaijani sports. Our athletes have proudly represented the nation at international competitions, securing approximately 1,700 medals. This reflects the ongoing development of sports in our country and the rise of a new generation of athletes. Azerbaijan continues to solidify its position as a formidable force in global sports." Following the ceremony, athletes and sports professionals were honoured for their contributions to the advancement of sports in Azerbaijan.

Indeed, 2024 was a year of remarkable success for Azerbaijani athletes. They represented the nation with distinction at prestigious international events, bringing home numerous accolades.

This year also saw significant progress in the development of sports infrastructure across Azerbaijan. In Ganja, the country's second-largest city, the largest sports centre in the Caucasus — the Palace of Sports — was inaugurated. Additionally, the foundations were laid for the city stadium in Ganja and the Imarat Stadium in Aghdam.

Several sports facilities were commissioned throughout the year. The Ministry of Youth and Sports unveiled a new sports complex in the Turkan settlement of Baku, equipped with all the necessary facilities for competitions and training in team sports, wrestling, judo, taekwondo, boxing, karate, and aerobic gymnastics. Furthermore, a regional centre of the International Judo Federation Academy was opened in Baku.

One of the highlights of the year was the recognition of two Azerbaijani sports complexes — the National Gymnastics Arena and the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Concert Complex — as winners in a competition for the best sports facilities held in Russia.

Top Athletes

Azerbaijani athletes delivered outstanding performances at various international competitions throughout the year. Greco-Roman wrestlers Murad Mammadov, Nihad Mammadli, and Hasrat Jafarov, along with Maria Stadnik and Alena Kolesnik, claimed European championship titles. The Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestling team achieved its best-ever result at the European championships, securing three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, marking the first time the team won three gold medals at a continental championship. At the world championships, Nihad Mammadli, Eldaniz Azizli, and Ulvi Ghanizade stood out by winning gold medals, with Azizli achieving this feat for the fourth time. In a historic milestone, female wrestler Zhala Aliyeva became the first Azerbaijani to win the under-23 world championship. 

Other notable achievements included Imran Garayev's gold medal at the World Junior Shooting Championships, Nikita Simonov's gold medals at the FIG World Cup Challenge Series in artistic gymnastics, and judoka Zelim Tsokoyev's gold medal at the Grand Slam tournament. 

Weightlifting also saw inspiring success after a 12-year gap. Dadash Dadashbeyli outperformed his competitors in multiple categories, securing three gold medals at the European Championships. Gymnast Nikita Simonov added to the medal tally with a gold medal at the world championship in Germany. Meanwhile, trampoline gymnast Mikhail Malkin won the World Cup in trampoline gymnastics and tumbling. Malkin was named Europe's best gymnast for 2023, and his coach, Adil Huseynzade, was recognized as the continent's best coach. 

Azerbaijan was represented by 97 athletes across 11 sports at the BRICS Sports Games Kazan 2024 in Tatarstan's capital. The delegation brought home four gold, nine silver, and 21 bronze medals. At the 8th Children of Asia International Sports Games in Yakutsk, 81 Azerbaijani athletes competed in 16 sports, securing a total of 36 medals —six gold, 10 silver, and 20 bronze. 

For the first time, Azerbaijan fielded a large delegation at the Bahrain Sports Games, with 160 athletes competing in 16 sports. The national team won a total of 77 medals — 23 gold, 26 silver, and 28 bronze — finishing seventh overall among participating countries. Medals were awarded in rhythmic and aerobic gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, taekwondo, fencing, judo, paragliding, and other disciplines. 

Azerbaijani acrobatic gymnasts also made history with their performances. At the World Championships in Portugal, they finished third overall, securing four gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. Notably, a mixed pair won gold in balance and mixed movements and silver in the team competition, marking a first in Azerbaijani acrobatic gymnastics history. 

In chess, Ulviyya Fataliyeva made history by becoming the first Azerbaijani to win the European Championship. 

In football, Garabagh brought pride to the nation. The Aghdam club reached the 1/8 finals of the UEFA Europa League for the first time in its history. Despite a valiant effort against Bayer Leverkusen — one of the continent's strongest clubs— they were eliminated in the final minutes of the match. 

In team sports, Azerrail triumphed in the inter-club European Beach Volleyball Cup. Meanwhile, Mingachevir's regional team Kür advanced to the third stage of the European Cup in men's handball. The promising performances of young boxers at world championships offer optimism for the future, with the youth national team securing five medals at a single world championship. Additionally, the Azerbaijani national chovgan team became world champions. 

Olympic and Paralympic Achievements

At the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, held from July 26 to August 11, 48 Azerbaijani athletes competed in 17 events across 15 sports. Judokas Hidayat Heydarov and Zelim Kotsoyev won gold medals, while taekwondoka Hashim Magomedov and boxer Alfonso Dominguez secured silver. Wrestlers Hasrat Jafarov, Giorgi Meshvildishvili, and Magomedkhan Magomedov claimed bronze medals. Azerbaijan set a new Olympic record, finishing 30th among 204 countries with two gold, two silver, and three bronze medals. The nation ranked 18th among European countries and third among Muslim countries. Notably, Hidayat Heydarov and Zelim Kotsoyev achieved a rare feat by becoming European, world, and Olympic champions in the same year. 

Azerbaijan's National Paralympic team, consisting of 18 athletes, competed at the 17th Summer Paralympic Games in Paris from August 28 to September 8, 2024. The team won a total of 11 medals — four gold, two silver, and five bronze. Azerbaijan ranked first among Caucasian countries, third among Turkic-speaking nations, third among post-Soviet countries, sixth among Muslim countries, and 28th among 169 countries worldwide in the medal standings. 

Overall, Azerbaijani athletes won a total of 1,683 medals at world and European championships, cup competitions, and other official international tournaments in 2024. This included 651 gold, 454 silver, and 578 bronze medals. Of these, 843 medals were earned in non-Olympic sports, comprising 405 gold, 207 silver, and 231 bronze medals. 

Azerbaijani paralympians participated in 25 international competitions throughout the year, securing a total of 37 medals— 12 gold, 16 silver, and nine bronze — across various sports.