FARID GAYIBOV: "WE HAVE TO ADMIT..."

The year 2024 proved to be a successful one for Azerbaijani sports, with notable achievements and innovative developments. Notably, the national team secured a noteworthy placement in the top 30 for the first time, amassing a total of seven medals at the year's primary event, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Region Plus had the opportunity to discuss and analyse the outcomes of the past year with Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports, Farid Gayibov.

Olympic Performance

"President Ilham Aliyev has offered high praise for our athletes. He noted that the Summer Olympics were the most significant competition of the year. In comparison to the Tokyo Games, where no medals were secured, the Olympics in Paris proved to be a triumph for our sports. We secured two gold medals and achieved 30th place in the medal standings for the first time. Notably, we made our debut appearance in 15 sports at the Olympics, a testament to our growing sporting excellence.

I would like to draw particular attention to the achievements of our judoka Hidayat Heydarov (73kg) in 2024. He secured the European, World, and Olympic championships. I am unaware of any other athletes in Azerbaijan who have accomplished this. I believe that in the coming years, we will have many such athletes," said the minister.

Football Challenges

Farid Gayibov highlighted the organisation of several international football competitions in Azerbaijan last year: "We held 3-4 international tournaments for children. The last competition took place in Guba. It is evident that our teams require greater participation in international competitions. It is regrettable that the 15-year-old footballers from Uzbekistan defeated all our teams. The Belarus U-15 national team also emerged victorious. There has been a marked improvement in the performance of our teams from one competition to the next. Practice is clearly a key factor in this development. It is therefore essential that teams in this age group participate consistently in competitions to gain the necessary playing experience. In recent years, players from Garabagh such as Bahlul Mustafazade, Tural Bayramov, Nariman Akhundzade, and Elvin Jafarguliyev have demonstrated consistent high performance. For instance, Elvin's proficiency has enabled him to compete at the highest levels in European football. As they gain experience, footballers' skills and performance levels tend to improve.

Concurrently, Farid Gayibov acknowledged the challenges faced in the football arena: "Currently, there are 10 teams participating in the Azerbaijan football championship. I would like to see an increase in the number of clubs. Garabagh has been the unchanging champion in recent years. For a team to develop, it is essential to have strong opponents. Until there is more competition in the championship, progress will be difficult to achieve. It is essential that the number of teams with the potential to challenge Garabagh increases within the country. It is important to acknowledge that national football is currently facing significant challenges. Collaborative efforts are essential for the advancement of the sport. I would like to acknowledge the work of the ministry. At the beginning of last year, we established the Ulduz Academy, an initiative designed to identify and recruit promising children from across the regions. These children are located in a village near Baku, where they attend school and undergo training together. A review of championships comprising lower age groups reveals that teams from this academy consistently secure first and second places. However, when they participate in international competitions, such as those against Russian teams, they tend to face significant challenges."

On the Importance of Investing In Youth Football

Farid Gayibov also emphasised the significance of investing in youth football and underscored the necessity for continuous monitoring of stadium conditions. "We must invest in youth football, and we have already started doing this. Many districts have stadiums in need of restoration and improvement. However, these improvements require support and sponsorship to be realised. For instance, if we properly renovate a stadium where teams will play and train, this work must continue; we must take care of the football club. We have already established a second league and are eagerly anticipating positive outcomes. Our aspiration is to replicate the achievements of our neighbouring Georgian teams. To achieve this, we must focus on investing in youth football to nurture high-calibre footballers."

The minister acknowledged the potential benefits of engaging private sector companies in the sports sector: "I believe that for large private companies to invest in sports, they need certain incentives. While some incentives are in place, further changes are necessary to encourage more investment. We must acknowledge that our sports marketing strategy is not very effective. During events, attendance is low. Unfortunately, people do not go to stadiums. While international and European championships attract global stars, local fan attendance remains low. In contrast, in some countries, fans attend such tournaments with their families. We aspire to cultivate this tradition in our own country. The most successful example of this is football, where the stadium is full for Garabagh's European cup matches. However, attendance at domestic championship matches remains low. This indicates that we are not doing enough necessary work here, and we must accept some of the responsibility for this. We need to be more active in sports marketing and, if we lack expertise, we should recruit it from abroad."

Preparing for the Third CIS Games

In 2025, Azerbaijan will host the Third CIS Games. Gayibov has announced that the competitions will take place in several cities: "The Third CIS Games will be organised in our country. Athletes from not only CIS countries but also other invited nations will participate. We are expecting approximately 7,000 participants. I believe these Games will serve as a strong impetus for developing sports in the region."