Ilham Aliyev attended a ceremony to award sportsmen and specialists in accordance with results of 2014 at the National Olympic Committee

A ceremony has been held at the National Olympic Committee to award sportsmen and specialists in accordance with results of 2014.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, president of the National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony.

Participants of the event welcomed President Ilham Aliyev with a storm of applause.

The head of state made a speech at the event.

Speech by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

- Dear friends, as in previous years, we are discussing the results in sport at the end of the year. This great tradition has existed for several years, and I am sure that it will live on in the future. I remember being elected as President of the National Olympic Committee in 1997 and saying that the Azerbaijani government and the National Olympic Committee would take care of our sportsmen and that we expected victories from our athletes.

This policy has been successful. Thanks to this policy, Azerbaijan is known in the world as a sporting nation today. All organizations governing sports are working hard. The National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, federations, societies, clubs – in other words, sport in Azerbaijan is developing well and the state policy is conducted at a high level. Thanks to this policy today, our athletes delight us with victories. We are creating sports infrastructure in Azerbaijan. I want to say again that Azerbaijan’s sporting achievements are already highly appreciated in the world.

Overall, 2014 was a successful year for the economy. At the same time, our international positions have strengthened further. Despite all the difficulties, as well as the crisis existing in the region and the world, Azerbaijan is developing steadily. All the objectives we set earlier in the year have been met and we are concluding 2014 with good results. In particular, we have had excellent results in the field of sports this year. Year after year our athletes win more medals. This year has been no exception either. In international competitions, world and European championships we have won 805 medals, including 275 gold. Compared to last year, the number of medals has increased again. This also suggests that our athletes achieve better results and, at the same time, participate in international competitions more broadly. The number of medals, of course, makes us happy because this is the main indicator of the development of sport.

During the year Azerbaijan has hosted several prestigious international competitions. Two of these were European Championships – in rhythmic gymnastics and taekwondo. Every year Azerbaijan hosts international competitions. Thus, Azerbaijan demonstrates its capabilities in this area too. To conduct an international competition is a tremendous responsibility and, at the same time, a great opportunity for visitors and athletes to see our country, see the realities of Azerbaijan and know that there is a strong, powerful and modern state of Azerbaijan.

A continuation of our success, of course, will be provided. As clear evidence of this we can cite this year’s Youth Summer Olympic Games held in China. These Games were historic for us – our athletes have won the greatest and historic victory at these Games. These games brought together 204 countries and Azerbaijani boys and girls won 10th place among teams. This is a historic achievement. To win 10th place in the world is a great success. It will be difficult to repeat this success in the future but we must strive to do so.

This shows once again that a beautiful young generation is growing in Azerbaijan. The essence of our success is the fact that there is continuity. Professional sportsmen delight us, protect our sporting honor in the world and European championships, Olympic Games. The younger generation is growing up.

The successes of our athletes delight our people. These successes have been achieved by athletes who grew up in the years of independence. This is further evidence of the great sense and benefits of our independence. Never before have our sportsmen won so many victories. But in the years of independence, at a time when the fate of the Azerbaijani people is in its own hands, we have been able to achieve this. I am confident that we will continue to consistently achieve these successes. The success of our young athletes is a historic achievement. I am sure that growing up, they will repeat this success.

The construction of sports facilities has continued this year. An Olympic Center was opened in Goygol. Currently, Olympic centers are either under construction or preparations for their construction are under way in nine districts. In general, there are 41 Olympic Centers in the countryside. Overall, we have created more than 50 large Olympic centers in recent years. So each region has ample opportunities for doing sports – swimming pools, indoor and outdoor gyms, the entire infrastructure. So I am fully confident that our achievements in international competitions will be continued.

Young professional athletes are our pride. They worthily represent Azerbaijan in the world. Azerbaijan has asserted itself as a sporting nation. This is acknowledged by international sports organizations. Some valuable ideas related to the successful development of Azerbaijan, including the development of sport, were voiced at the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committee held in Baku in November. The Assembly was attended by over 300 guests. People from all over Europe were familiarized with our city and our sporting achievements. Both the president of the European Olympic Committee and the president of the International Olympic Committee, who also participated in the event, noted Azerbaijan’s success in this field.

In general, our cooperation with international sports bodies has been a success. It is no coincidence that the first European Games will be held in Baku. These Games are a historic event because, as you know, such games are to be held in Europe for the first time and this responsibility falls on us. And we have assumed this responsibility and were ready for that. The work we have done to date shows that the European Olympic Committee made the right decision.

Preparatory work is in the final stages. As you know, we had only two and a half years to prepare. We are doing preparatory work in a very limited timeframe. But the work is carried out with high quality, on schedule and all the facilities will be ready on time. It is not so easy. We had some sports facilities, some are under construction, others are being renovated. Extensive creative work is currently under way. All sports facilities are being prepared. As a result of these Games, Azerbaijan will have an updated and new sports infrastructure, so it will be possible to host Summer Olympic Games in the future as well.

In essence, for the number of athletes and sports European games are very close to summer Olympic Games. They will bring together more than 6,000 athletes who will compete in 20 sports. For comparison, I can say that until the 1980s summer Olympics were joined by about 6,000 athletes. Then, due to the increase of sports summer Olympic Games involved nearly 9,000-10,000 athletes. So our games will not differ a whole lot from summer Olympic Games. At the same time, our Games will have a number of advantages because several sports clusters have been created, an Olympic village and a media camp are being set up for athletes and the media. These are top-level buildings which will have perfect conditions. Besides, this is being created in the city center. In summer games the Olympic village is usually located on the outskirts of the city and it takes at least an hour to get there. And this one is in the city center.

All our existing sports facilities are being renovated – the sports center named after Heydar Aliyev, the Baku Sports Center and other sites. “Crystal Hall” will host competitions in several sports. The Baku gymnastics arena has recently been commissioned. The center of skeet shooting is under construction. The construction of the aquatic palace is now in its final stages. A large Olympic stadium is being built. At the same time, we are building a center called the Baku Sport City. It will be a unique sports center. At the same time, thanks to these games great support is provided for the infrastructure of our city. Transport issues are being addressed. New routes are opening, roads are laid, bridges and overpasses are built and new buses are purchased to improve public transport. So these Games will certainly usher new opportunities in Baku.

Major environmental projects are being implemented now. The process of cleaning of lakes is currently under way. In particular, the cleaning of Lake Boyukshor is ongoing successfully. Lake Boyukshor is being divided into two parts. A dam has already been built on the lake. A wide road is being established on the dam, so there are excellent opportunities for transport. At the same time, as a result of the first stage of the cleaning of Lake Boyukshor, which will also be ready before the Games, there will be a clear, beautiful and well-maintained lake on an area of 300 hectares in the city center. Around the lake there will be a boulevard, a forest, a promenade, sports and biking lanes. Everything will be provided. Even now, when the cleaning process is still under way, and I note this with great joy, migratory birds come to the lake. And this suggests that the water is already becoming cleaner.

At the same time, a beautiful sports center is being built on an area where the Sport City is located, on the site of the old oil derricks. The Bibi-Heybat oil fields are among the oldest in the world. Years of oil production there have left a huge mark and this area used to reflect an environmental catastrophe. The derricks there were even filmed in some movies. This area is being completely cleared now and a large park of 20 hectares is being laid. The surroundings of the Aquatic Palace will probably be the most beautiful parkland of Baku. This will also increase the length of the boulevard. The length of the former boulevard was 3.5 km. And now, as a result of new projects, the length of the boulevard will reach 16 km. This will probably be the longest boulevard in the world. Everyone will be able to walk from the White City to the Bibi-Heybat derricks. Of course, this is a very long distance. Therefore, special small buses will be delivered to the boulevard for people’s comfort.

In other words, I want to point to the great opportunities ushered by these Games. However, we would have implemented this project even without this. The cleaning of Lake Boyukshor and the construction of the boulevard – these are not issues of the current time. Also, when we laid the foundation of the great Olympic Stadium, the decision to hold the Games in Baku had not been made yet. We would have done it anyway. The Games simply make us do this in a shorter time. In six months all of these beautiful and new places will be open to the public, and after the Games the people of Baku and our guests will be able to take advantage of these wonderful opportunities. Our beautiful city of Baku will become even more beautiful, and I am sure that the guests, athletes and visitors to our city will see that again.

These games also demonstrate the strength of our country. Only strong states are capable of conducting such major sporting events. Azerbaijan is also a strong state. As a result of the reforms carried out and the work done in recent years, our country has grown stronger. We have a strong economy and the political processes are going in a positive direction. Azerbaijan is a country enjoying great respect in the international arena. In the sports world, as I said, all the officials in charge of sports speak highly of Azerbaijan’s successes. Therefore, these games will allow us the opportunity to show Azerbaijan to the world the way it is and to demonstrate that the young and independent Azerbaijan is making strides, that it is open to the world, that our country is modern and at the same time attached to its history and cultural roots and that security in our country is provided at a high level. Baku and Azerbaijan are among the safest cities and countries around the world. Thus, Azerbaijan will show its capabilities to the world once again.

As for our sporting successes, I am sure that these successes will be achieved next year too. There are already wonderful traditions. Our athletes are both professional and patriotic. They are attached to the motherland. Azerbaijan will continue to speak its word in the international arena.

Today, according to the tradition, we will award athletes and sports professionals. All of the work done for the state and the people gets a deserved assessment of the state. Every year we decorate athletes with various awards. These awards will also be presented today. I am sure that next year we will award winners of European Games.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you, all Azerbaijani sportsmen and the people of Azerbaijan on the upcoming Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year holidays. I wish you continued success in the coming year. Thank you.

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Then the award-giving ceremony was held.