'BP was happy to support Azerbaijani athletes'

BP Azerbaijan has held a ceremony to see off seven Azerbaijani athletes – three Olympic and four Paralympic, whom the company has been supporting as they prepare for and participate in the London 2012 Games and whom BP selected as its ambassadors for the Games.

Speaking to the ceremony, Rashid Javanshir, president of the BP Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey region, said that this January BP signed agreements with Azerbaijan`s National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee to support the country`s national teams and a group of selected national athletes in the run up for the London 2012 Games.

 He noted under the agreement BP Azerbaijan became the official partner of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee and the Azerbaijan National Paralympic Committee for the London 2012 Games.

Javanshir said BP was happy to support Azerbaijani athletes, and wished them successes.
Other speakers, including Azad Rahimov, minister of youth and sport, Chingiz Huseynzade, vice-president of the National Olympic Committee, and Ilgar Rahimov, president of the National Paralympic Committee, praised BP`s support of development of sport in Azerbaijan.

Ilham Zakiyev, two-time Paralympic, two-time world and three-time European judo champion, said the Azerbaijani athletes would “try our best to justify hopes pinned on us”.

The seven athletes selected by BP are Jabrail Hasanov – freestyle wresting, Farida Azizova - taekwondo, Rovshan Bayramov – Greco-roman wrestling, Ilham Zakiyev – judo, Afag Sultanova – judo, Olokhan Musayev – athletics, Oleg Panyutin – athletics.

Fifty Azerbaijani athletes have booked their places in the London Games so far.


/AzerTAc/