President Aliyev: We can organize any major international competition

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan achieves big victories in international competitions, world championships, Olympic Games and can organize any major international competition.

President Ilham Aliyev made the remark at the ceremony hosted by Azerbaijan’s National Olympic Committee dedicated to the sports results of 2016 on December 23.

Aliyev, who head the National Olympic Committee, recalled the victory achieved in the Rio 2016 Olympics, noting that this is another significant blow to the ugly rumors about Azerbaijan’s success in the Baku 2015 European Games.

President Aliyev noted that the first European Games held in Baku in 2015 once again demonstrated the level of development of sport in Azerbaijan.

“We have once again demonstrated that we are a powerful state,” the president said. “It is really a great victory, a great heroism to take the second place among the European countries in a very intense struggle at these Games.”

He said that an ugly campaign, held in a centralized manner against Azerbaijan before, during and after the European Games, was aimed at tarnishing these Games and diminishing the capacities, distorting the victories of the athletes.

There were allegations that high results of Azerbaijani athletes were somehow related with the fact of Azerbaijan’s holding and hosting the first European Games, the head of state added.

The president noted that along with impressive results in 2015, Azerbaijan’s holding the games was highly appreciated by the international sports community.

He reminded that Azerbaijan had only two years to prepare for the European Games.

In two years Azerbaijan managed to do the work which is done in many years, or even maybe for over 7-8 years, said President Aliyev.

The most modern sports infrastructure was established and upgraded in Baku in connection with the European Games, he noted, adding that today these sports facilities serve Azerbaijani people and athletes.

The newly-built grand Olympic Stadium, Baku Aquatics Center, Shooting Center, other renovated sports facilities meet the highest standards and Azerbaijan can hold any international competition in the future, added President Aliyev.

 “I have attended many Summer Olympics, and I can compare. I want to reiterate that the level of the Games we organized was not below the level of any other Olympic Games. For many parameters, these Games can be an example for Summer Olympic Games. I know that our experience is being learned,” he said.

Following the presidential speech the award-giving ceremony was held.

President Aliyev presented the badges of titles of "Honored worker of physical culture and sport" to Tarverdi Allahverdiyev, Chingiz Eyvazov, Seymur Ahadov, Vagif Feyzullayev, Oleg Krapivin, Firudin Gurbanov, Hamid Mammadyarov, and Bahruz Salehli for their contributions to the development of physical culture and sport in Azerbaijan.

Abbas Azimov and Gahraman Mammadyarov received certificates of individual pensions of the President of Azerbaijan for their significant contribution to the development of sport in the country.

The head of state presented NOC Olympic order to Olympic champion Radik Isayev and international referee Hijran Sharifov for his high professionalism at Rio Olympics.

NOC President`s honorary diplomas were given to Nurlan Aslanov, Bakhtiyar Abbasov, Ayaz Mammadov, Vasif Ismayilov, Shamsi Bayramov, Ramal Aslanov, Adil Aliyev, Zaur Akhundov, Nariman Guliyev and Emin Hajiyev for their outstanding contribution to development of non-Olympic sports in Azerbaijan.

President Aliyev handed over certificates of new flats to a group of athletes and sport figures in recognition of their high achievements in 2016.

Member of the NOC Executive Committee, the founder and director of Museum of Miniature Books, Honored Art Worker Zarifa Salakhova then presented keepsakes to President Aliyev and wished the head of state success in his activities.