President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with the winners of the Third Islamic Solidarity Games held in Palembang, Indonesia, their coaches and sports experts.
After congratulating the athletes on the victories achieved in the Third Islamic Solidarity Games, President Ilham Aliyev said:
- Dear sportsmen, dear friends.
I cordially greet all of you and sincerely congratulate you on the success achieved. You have represented Azerbaijan properly. Our team has achieved good results in the Islamic Solidarity Games and won 24 medals, including six gold ones. This is an excellent result, our great victory and a great success. This victory shows once again that Azerbaijan is a country of sports. Sport is growing fast, and the reason for our victories lies in the fact that we have a strong state policy.
The state policy and the joint activities of the bodies governing sport – the National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, federations, clubs, sports associations – serve the goal of successfully representing Azerbaijan in the world, in the world of sports, the goal of developing sport in Azerbaijan and achieving even greater successes.
Islamic Solidarity Games are a very important event in the Muslim world. Of course, they are a major sporting event, but at the same time these games are a factor strengthening Islamic solidarity.
Despite the fact that Azerbaijan’s independence is relatively young, we make every effort towards Islamic solidarity and contribute to this cause. As you know, our country has hosted various activities to strengthen Islamic solidarity. In 2009, Baku was declared the "Capital of Islamic Culture", while in 2018 this honorable mission will fall on Nakhchivan. I spoke about this in a video message to the Islamic Solidarity Games. Thus, I believe that these games own a positive role not only in sports but also in bringing the Muslim world together as a whole.
At the same time, of course, it is a sporting event. We prepare for every competition and try to represent our country properly. The winning of 24 medals and the great successes of our athletes encourage the people of Azerbaijan and show that this victory is not accidental in nature. In recent years, Azerbaijan has managed to reach the highest level in various international competitions. In last year's Summer Olympics in London Azerbaijan won 10 medals, including two gold ones. We managed to achieve the highest level in the history of Olympic Games. We finished in 30th place globally and in 15th among European countries. This is a historic victory.
Youth games were held in Kazan this year and Azerbaijan showed good results there too, winning 16 medals, including four gold ones.
This time we have demonstrated our strength in the Islamic Solidarity Games again. We have shown once again that Azerbaijan is a sports nation and that we have major sporting successes. I am sure that our sport has a great future.
I also want to note the fact that Azerbaijan was represented both in Olympic and non-Olympic sports in these games. I think this is a positive development that distinguishes the Islamic Solidarity Games. As you know, there has never been discrimination in Azerbaijan. We do not make any distinction between Olympic and non-Olympic sports. All sports are equally important for us, and we try to make sure that the athletes representing Azerbaijan in non-Olympic sports are also provided with state care. As you know, on our initiative non-Olympic sports will also be represented in the European Games to be held for the first time.
I believe that there shouldn’t be such distinctions in the international Islamic world, because all athletes have equal rights. In any case, we are trying and will continue to try to create equal conditions for all athletes in Azerbaijan.
This victory is underpinned by a thought-out policy and proper organization of the training process. The conditions created for athletes are improving day by day. Currently, there are 40 regional Olympic centers in Azerbaijan, which plays a positive role in the selection of talented young people in the regions. Thus, we contribute to the popularity of sport. This is a priority issue because our young people and children must be healthy. And in order to be healthy, everyone has to do sports, of course.
Of course, the glory of any country is multiplied by its sporting achievements. This issue is also in the spotlight. Athletes constantly encourage us by showing good results in international competitions, European and world championships.
It has already become a wonderful tradition for major competitions to be held in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan regularly hosts European and world championships. Of course, the inaugural European Games to be held in Azerbaijan in 2015 are a manifestation of great confidence and tremendous responsibility for us.
Azerbaijan is a Muslim country, which is also represented in the European sports world. I believe that the holding of the first European games in Azerbaijan is a great success of our country and the result of great confidence of the European sporting family in us. We are doing the preparatory work at the highest level. As I mentioned in my previous speeches, we will hold these games at the level of Olympic Games, and the inaugural European games will go down in history as very successful games.
As you know, the Olympic movement emerged in Europe. Subsequently, it was restored in Europe, but European games have never been held before. Ours will be the first experience and our contribution to history.
The next Islamic Solidarity Games will also be held in Azerbaijan in 2017. This too has a great symbolic meaning because Islamic Solidarity Games of 2017 will be held only two years after the 2015 European Games. Not only does this show the geographical position of our country, it also shows its political and cultural essence.
Azerbaijan is a Muslim country, an integral part of the Islamic world. At the same time, we are a country that has become a member of European institutions. Thus, Azerbaijan is a place where two continents converge. Both geographically and culturally, Azerbaijan is located between Asia and Europe. We are members of both Muslim and European structures in political terms too. Azerbaijan is a unique country represented, and quite adequately, in these two worlds.
Our state is built on these foundations. The independent state of Azerbaijan is based on strong national and spiritual values, on national traditions. At the same time, it is a modern state open to cooperation with all countries, a secular and developing state. Therefore, I believe that the holding of the European and Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku in just two years is of great political significance. Today, our country is highly respected in the world. We are reckoned with and our opinion is important. Azerbaijan has and will continue to have a say on the most pressing regional and global affairs.
Today, Azerbaijan is a member of the UN Security Council. A total of 155 countries supported our candidacy and showed confidence in us. This month, Azerbaijan chairs the UN Security Council – the world 's top structure. This means a lot of trust, our great success and a great achievement. Of course, the successes of our athletes are a great way of communicating more information about Azerbaijan to the world. The power of countries also lies in the development of sports. Sport is developing rapidly in Azerbaijan and we are pleased with the athletes who are making a contribution to the overall development of our country.
Of course, the government will continue to support athletes in their everyday and material problems. I meet with athletes at least once a year, at the end of each year. But these meetings are actually held several times a year, as there are many victories and I try to meet with the athletes returning to their homeland with major victories. But according to tradition, we have been meeting with athletes at the end of each year since 1997 to reward them and provide them with apartments. The athletes performing successfully in major and prestigious events are given monetary awards, and they will be provided this time too.
However, I also want to note that the main factor leading you and all of our athletes to victory is certainly not the financial aspect, not the material interest, but love of the country, patriotism and attachment to the homeland.
This time our national anthem has been played in Indonesia six times and our national flag has been raised 24 times. I am convinced that all Azerbaijani people were just as glad as you because this is your victory, the victory of our country and our people.
I greet all of you again, congratulate and wish you every success!
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Concluding the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said:
- Thank you very much. I want to congratulate you again. I want to draw your attention to one more issue. This meeting brings together representatives of the middle and younger generations. This, I think, is also very symbolic because there is continuity in Azerbaijan. The athletes representing our country in international competitions today demonstrate their professionalism because they learned it from the middle generation. At the same time, the younger generation rejoices at your successes. Children and teenagers follow you on TV and in print media. Your success is a great joy for them. At the same time, it is a factor leading them to sport clubs to do sports just like you. This continuity already exists in Azerbaijan. Without care about child and adolescent sport, it is impossible to develop sport in the country.
I am very glad that Azerbaijani children and adolescents do sports. As I said, there are many children among those doing sports in 40 regional Olympic centers. Thus, we popularize sport and, at the same time, contribute to the health of the younger generation and facilitate our future success. This continuity must be maintained, and I am confident that it will be continued.
There is another noteworthy issue. Our present-day athletes emerged and began sportsmen in the years of independence. Never before in the history of Azerbaijan has our sport been as strong as it is now. In earlier periods – I am sure that representatives of the middle generation, coaches and sports professionals will remember that – in Soviet years, sport in Azerbaijan developed too, but it was not very successful. It wasn’t easy at all to be selected for the Soviet team. But today, in the years of independence, we finish in 30th place in the world in the Summer Olympic Games. There are more than 200 countries in the world. Almost 200 countries were represented in the last Olympics. Finishing in 30th place among all these countries is a historic victory.
This once again demonstrates the benefits of independence. The younger generation, many of our athletes were born in the years of independence. Some of them were three to four years old at the time of the restoration of independence and do not remember those days. They emerged in the period of independence. Naturally, they can’t make comparisons the way we can. But we, representatives of the middle generation, know and see the great benefits of independence. The people of Azerbaijan are free and our state is independent. For centuries the people of Azerbaijan lived with the dream of independence. And our generation is lucky to live in independence.
Every citizen should seek to strengthen the independence and reinforce our country. Everyone should contribute to independence through his work. Politicians, business people, all citizens, athletes – we all serve the goal of making our country stronger, achieving greater development and enabling people to live better. Of course, the goal is to make Azerbaijan even better known in the world.
In my view, there is no other means for the promotion of the country as universal as sport. Sport and culture! But successes in sport show themselves more fully because there are first and second places, there are medals.
I think that sporting successes also introduce Azerbaijan in the world as a modern and vibrant country. Of course, the main role in this is played by our athletes. Public policy, the bodies governing sport, coaches – of course, their work is very important. But the final word on the mat, in the ring and in other playgrounds is spoken by athletes. And they please all the people.
Today we can be rightfully proud of the fact that we have excellent and strong athletes. At the same time, by their lifestyle, actions and affection to the country athletes serve as role models for the younger generation and children. I am very pleased that the vast majority of our athletes act in their lives, at home, in society and everyday activities as patriots, modest and cultured people.
I think that this is what distinguishes us from some other countries. An athlete in Azerbaijan is a very honorable title.
There is a very strong sympathy and respect for athletes in our society also because athletes conduct themselves with dignity in society.
I am sure that the children and teenagers who follow your example today will become future champions. The younger generation successfully representing Azerbaijan will be just as successful as you in five to 10 years.
I congratulate you again! I wish you good health and every success!
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Then a picture was taken.
