UNSUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, held in Italy, are now history. The prestigious competition, often referred to as the White Olympics, will be remembered for its new records, sensations and scandals.

No medal ambitions

Azerbaijan sent two athletes to the Winter Games: figure skater Vladimir Litvintsev and alpine skier Anastasia Papatoma.  Litvintsev's performance in the short programme was substandard. With a score of 63.63, he finished last and failed to qualify for the free skate. It is clear that this was Litvintsev's lowest score in the short programme this season, and one of the worst in his career. This performance was also the weakest in the history of Azerbaijani figure skating at the Olympic Games.

Anastasia Papatoma, representing Azerbaijan in the slalom competition in alpine skiing, performed better. The 18-year-old athlete finished among 64 participants with a time of 1:07:34. After two attempts with a total time of 2:09:15, Papatoma finished in 51st place. This is the best achievement of her career.

It is clear that Azerbaijani athletes did not compete for medals at the Winter Olympics. The team enters these prestigious competitions primarily for the experience of doing so.

Azerbaijan has been represented at every Winter Olympics since 1998. The country is yet to win a single medal. Yulia Zlobina and Alexei Sitnikov's 12th place in ice dancing at the 2014 Olympics is the best achievement. The maximum number of athletes representing the country at the Winter Olympics is four, as demonstrated in 1998 and 2002.

It was obvious even before Milan and Cortina that the athletes had no real chance. Litvintsev's mission was clear: to surpass his Beijing 2022 performance and demonstrate unwavering stability at the Olympic level. Papatoma's objective was straightforward: to perform at his best and gain valuable experience in the main tournament of the quadrennium.

On the pause and strategy of winter sports

Azerbaijan is a nation that prioritises the development of all sports at the state level. Participation in the Olympics is vital for promoting winter sports in the country. Hosting the European Championships and the Ski Mountaineering World Cup stage in Shahdagh in 2026, and the Ski Mountaineering World Championships in 2027, is about more than organising major competitions. It is part of a long-term strategy to create a comprehensive base for training athletes. Azerbaijan is currently represented by a small number of athletes at the Winter Olympics. The steps being taken give reason to believe that the geography of sports, the size of the delegation and the country's competitiveness in these competitions will gradually grow.

It is clear that results are one of the most important factors in the development of any sport. The federation is actively popularising the sport by inviting athletes from abroad. The lack of medals at the Winter Olympics is clearly a cause for concern. For example, Litvintsev, representing Azerbaijan since 2018, has not achieved any significant success on the international stage during this period.

It is clear that the foreign athletes Samantha Ritter and Daniel Brikalov did not qualify for the Olympic stage this season. They train and compete abroad at the expense of the country, and do not participate in the development of Azerbaijani figure skating. During this entire time, these athletes have not met with young athletes in Baku or appeared before the press.

The country lacked the necessary infrastructure, as was previously reported. In 2023, an ice arena opened at the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Concert Complex. I can confirm that there is a complex in Shahdagh that meets international standards. Meetings with children and teenagers are guaranteed to generate a lot of interest and enthusiasm. Under the current circumstances, naturalised athletes go to major tournaments just for the sake of participating.

It would be advisable for the Winter Sports Federation to be more careful in selecting foreign athletes. At the same time, the priority should finally be to train local athletes.

NOC: Experience is more important than medals

Chingiz Huseynzade, vice-president of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, delivered a bold statement on the performance of athletes at the Olympics in Italy. Vladimir Litvintsev performed well in training before the competition, and this was his second time participating in the Games. He finished 18th at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, which made it clear that he was capable of more. The psychological pressure and excitement undoubtedly had a negative effect on his skating.

Our other representative, Anastasia Papatoma, is taking her first steps in big-time sport, and these Olympics were a serious test for her. She finished 59th out of 96 athletes in her first attempt, which is a commendable achievement. This allowed her to advance to the next stage. In her second attempt, she finished among 64 participants and ended up in 51st place overall. Her slalom result is a historic one for Azerbaijan at the Winter Olympics. This is the first time an athlete has achieved this in this sport. The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics were a stepping stone for the young athlete, gaining her invaluable experience that will undoubtedly boost her future career.

Ch. Huseynzade also stated that Azerbaijani athletes are decisively winning medals at the Summer Olympics, with the national anthem being played and the country's flag being raised at international arenas. We have not yet achieved success at the Winter Olympics. The main reason is clear: it is related to the geographical and climatic characteristics of our country. Azerbaijan is a country in the South Caucasus where snow cover is temporary and the frosty winter is short. These factors create certain limitations for the widespread development of winter sports. Nevertheless, we are taking the necessary steps in this direction.

We are part of the greatest celebration on the planet: the Winter Olympic Games. Azerbaijan's participation in these Games is of great importance.