FARID GAYIBOV: "2025 WAS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR"

For Azerbaijani sport, 2025 will be remembered for a record number of medals won and for hosting a series of prestigious competitions in Baku for the first time. To discuss the sports year’s outcomes, achieved results, and expectations for 2026, we spoke with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sport, Farid Gayibov.

"2025 will be remembered for a record number of medals won by our athletes. Do you consider the past year successful for Azerbaijani sport?"

"Yes, it was a successful year for our sport. Overall, in both Olympic and other sports, our athletes won more awards compared to previous years. Our Paralympians also showed strong performances. In 2025, prestigious competitions were held in Baku for the first time. For example, the UFC tournament - one of the most renowned in MMA - took place. This attracted interest from local fans as well as supporters from neighbouring countries. Our country hosted the 3rd CIS Games. The competitions were held not only in the capital but also in various cities across the country. Incidentally, the city stadium in Ganja was renovated and commissioned especially for the Games. Shooting competitions took place in Khankendi."

"Development of sport in the regions is known to be particularly important for the country. Are you satisfied with the activities of sports halls outside the capital?"

"President Ilham Aliyev has led the National Olympic Committee for 28 years. The first Olympic complex was commissioned 25 years ago, so some facilities needed major repairs. The 3rd CIS Games became a good incentive for this. Many such complexes have been renovated to meet modern standards, though some are still waiting their turn. In the coming years, we will renovate them step-by-step. All Olympic complexes have swimming pools. We make efforts so that as many people as possible can use them even during winter. We implement projects related to swimming. In schools, we offer children a four-week programme teaching them how to swim correctly. The goal is that in a few years we can proudly say: Azerbaijani schoolchildren know how to swim."

"In 2025, athletes won a total of 2,113 medals, 30% of which were gold. What is more important: the quantity of medals or their quality?"

"At the CIS Games, we had no medals in swimming before. At the competitions in Ganja, we won many awards including two gold medals. However, mass participation in sport is our primary focus. The ice arena in Baku has been operating for three years now. On Saturdays and Sundays, queues form there. One of the key points for us in sport is precisely mass participation. Without it, where would athletes come from? Everything is interconnected. How does a sport become popular? When a good, star athlete appears in it. Parents want their children to achieve similar successes as that successful athlete."

"In tumbling, Tofig Aliyev was often in the spotlight last year. Do you think he can become a star of this sport?"

"Tofig Aliyev remains very popular. A well-known video where he performed a new element went viral. This sport is widespread in Scandinavian countries. Tofig is popular on social media, which makes us happy. We want to have as many such athletes as possible. Social media is also a form of promotion."

"In domestic sport, the issue of foreign players is constantly discussed. Meanwhile, the ministry consistently supports local athletes. Do federations currently make requests regarding foreign players?"

"Foreign players are present not only in Azerbaijan but also in many large countries. We want to develop our own athletes. In some sports, the number of foreign players has decreased. However, in others there have been invited athletes for many years, which concerns me. Of course, we would prefer this not to continue. Federations do make requests because we have few athletes in heavy weight categories. Some sports also have team competitions, which are very important. I can understand inviting foreign athletes in new sports. Until now, Azerbaijan has had no representation by domestic athletes at Winter Olympics due to lack of preparation conditions. These conditions have been created recently; now we need to wait a little."

"In 2026, qualification points for the next Olympics start being contested. What are your thoughts on the 2028 Summer Olympics in the US?"

"We have already started preparing for the Summer Olympics. We want to see new star athletes emerge. At the end of last year, we got a world boxing champion—Subhan Mammadov—who is only 19 years old. The last time an athlete from Azerbaijan’s boxing school became world champion was ten years ago. I believe Subhan will secure an Olympic licence and perform well at the Games. We expect good results not only from him but also from other athletes. At the Summer Olympics, we aim to at least maintain our 30th place in the overall team ranking and naturally strive for a higher position. Compared with neighbouring countries, it is clear that we have achieved very respectable results. In Paris 2024, we ranked 30th in the medal table, which was unprecedented for Azerbaijan—a record outcome for us."

"Last year also featured another election for president of European Gymnastics. You won a tough contest and were re-elected head of the continental body for another four years. What are your goals for this period?"

"I clearly remember my first elections. In 2008 I was elected member of the International Gymnastics Federation Council for the first time and again in 2012 for a second term. Since 2013 I have been involved with European Gymnastics—then called the European Gymnastics Union—and was elected its vice-president that year. Four years later in 2017 I was appointed president of European Gymnastics for the first time; four years after that I was its only candidate at elections. In 2025 I was elected president for the third time. The statute limits any individual to three terms in this post. Ahead of elections our platform was sent to all federations; we held various meetings and ultimately won. I say ‘we’ because it was a team effort. I take this opportunity to thank Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Azerbaijan’s Gymnastics Federation, and every team member who supported me. My election reflects our state’s successful international policy.

"There is always competition in sports; federations compete with each other too—fighting for sponsorship contracts and broadcasts at prime airtime. European Gymnastics includes eight sports, four of which are Olympic events. Throughout the year our focus centres on organising World and European championships scheduled on our calendar, signing contracts with hosts, and other matters.

"In recent years we worked on a strategy for European Gymnastics now presented to member federations. We started holding new competitions—such as the European Cup—one of our flagship new tournaments. So plans and projects for the next four years are ready; we must implement them successfully."