NEW SEASON

The new year of 2025 promises to be a busy one for mass competitions and prestigious tournaments within the Azerbaijani sporting sector. It is encouraging that major sporting events will be organised not only in the capital but also in various regions of the country.

Gymnastics

Azerbaijan is set to host a series of international gymnastics competitions this year. A total of seven major tournaments are scheduled to take place in the country, including four stages of the World Cup. The season will commence with trampoline and tumbling athletes performing at the National Gymnastics Arena on 22-23 February. From March 6-9, the World Cup in artistic gymnastics will take place in the capital, followed by the World Cup in rhythmic gymnastics on April 18-20. The season will conclude with a World Cup stage for acrobats in Baku from June 13-15.

In the latter half of the year, tournaments included in the European calendar will be organised in the country. Ganja will play host to the European Championship in aerobics, as well as European competitions in this sport for various age groups. The dates for these events have been set: competitions for age groups will be held from November 9-11, and the continental championship will take place from November 14-16.

Another significant event of the year will be the II European Cup in rhythmic gymnastics, which was also held in Baku last year. This time, the competitions are scheduled for May 1-4.

Formula-1

The capital of Azerbaijan is once again preparing for the Formula-1 event. The new global season will consist of 24 rounds. Pre-season testing will once again take place in Bahrain from 26-28 February. The season will commence with the Australian Grand Prix from March 14-16 and will conclude on December 5-7 in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The races of the new season will take place across five continents. In 2025, six sprints have been scheduled.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix of Formula 1 has already been scheduled for September 19-21.

Third CIS Games

Azerbaijan will also play host to another major sporting event in 2025: the III Games of CIS countries. Fourteen cities have been selected for their hosting, including Ganja, Khankendi, Mingachevir, Gabala, Ismayilli, Sheki, and others.

The majority of the Games will take place in Ganja. The Third CIS Games, which are set to attract around 7,000 athletes, will be open to all. Invitations for participation have already been extended to athletes from friendly countries that are not members of the CIS. The competitions will span 32 sports disciplines, with winners being determined in each.

Traditional Chess and Judo

Two international chess competitions are planned for this year. The traditional Baku Open 2025 is set to take place in April. Additionally, the Vugar Hashimov Memorial, now in its 11th edition, is expected to be held in Garabagh.

The new international judo season is set to commence in February. The season will conclude with three Grand Slam tournaments in the last month of winter. The first tournament is scheduled for 1-2 February in Paris, followed by the second from 14-16 February in Baku at the National Gymnastics Arena. The third Grand Slam tournament is scheduled for February 28-March 2 in Tashkent.

First Time in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan will be hosting the World Cup in ski mountaineering for the first time on March 9-10. The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ICMF) has approved the request by the Azerbaijan Winter Sports Federation to host the World Cup in the country. The agreement reached between the ICMF and the Azerbaijan Winter Sports Federation has seen the World Cup scheduled to take place at the Shahdagh tourist resort, with the event now formally included in the international federation's competition calendar. The event is expected to attract approximately 60 athletes from 11 countries.

Additionally, in 2025, Azerbaijan will host a junior Grand Prix figure skating tournament for the first time. It is anticipated that approximately 150 athletes from over 20 countries will participate in these competitions, which are scheduled to take place from September 24-27. This event will mark a significant milestone in the development of figure skating in Azerbaijan. Following the successful organisation of the Grand Prix, the Azerbaijan Winter Sports Federation is also planning to apply to host a world championship.

Furthermore, qualifying matches for the World Cup in basketball 3x3 will be organised for the first time in Azerbaijan. This is made possible by an agreement signed between the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation and the International Basketball Federation. The matches, scheduled for 24-25 May in Baku, will feature six men's and six women's teams competing for a spot in the main event. The top three teams from the qualifying games in both categories will earn the right to participate in the main stage of the World Cup.

In 2025, Baku will also play host to the World Championship in mini-football. This prestigious competition, organised by the Azerbaijan Mini-Football Federation, is expected to attract participation from over 50 countries.

In addition to these competitions, various international tournaments and Grand Prix events are planned throughout the country.