President Aliyev: Development of sports in Azerbaijan testifies to general development

Baku, Azerbaijan, July 18 Trend: Development of sports in Azerbaijan testifies to the country’s general development, said President of Azerbaijan, President of National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev on July 18. He was addressing a see-off ceremony for Azerbaijani athletes who will compete at the 31st Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Noting that the country will be represented by 56 athletes at the Olympic Games, the president said this is more than the last year’s figure. President Aliyev expressed confidence that Azerbaijani athletes would do their best and vie for worthy achievements. “In the last four years, the country’s athletes have always succeeded in international competitions, in the world and European championships, and returned with great triumphs to the Motherland,” said the president. Azerbaijan is today known in the world as a sporting nation, he added. “The world’s sports community knows and acknowledges this,” he said. “We pursue expedient policy in connection with sports, the Olympic Movement in Azerbaijan. All organizations governing sports are working hard. The National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, federations, societies, clubs – in other words, sports in Azerbaijan is developing well and the state policy is conducted at a high level.” President Aliyev said the well thought-out policy has turned sports into an important factor in the Azerbaijani society, adding that athletes hold a worthy place in the society. He said the number of people willing to go in for sports is rising, the reason of which is success of Azerbaijani athletes and the care of state towards them.