President of Azerbaijan returns home from Beijing

At the Beijing international airport, the President and his family members, including first lady Mehriban Aliyeva were seen off by senior Chinese state and government officials.

Azerbaijan`s Olympic medalists – champion Elnur Mammadli and silver winners Rovshan Bayramov and Vitaly Rahimov were also on board the presidential aircraft, and the President chatted with them during the flight.

"I congratulate you on a great victory as you won a gold and two silver medals. The victory in an individual event is a great achievement. Your win has been a source of great joy to the whole people of Azerbaijan," he told the athletes.

"Azerbaijan now ranks 14th in the medal table. We have other athletes who will be in action in the following days, so we await new victories."

The Olympians expressed their gratitude to President Aliyev for paying attention to developing sport in the country. They said the President`s watching their bouts personally was a source of additional boost to them.

A large group of fans and family members of the athletes with flowers in their hands packed the Heydar Aliyev International Airport to give a triumphant welcome to the President and the country`s Olympic heroes.

President Aliyev and the first lady personally congratulated the family members of the Olympians after stepping off the plane.

The Presidential couple then posed for photographs with the athletes and their family members.

/AzerTag/