Construction-creation works of the National Olympic Committee are continuing without stopping. In May 2002 in Ganja and Nakhichevan cities of the republic construction of new sportive complexes had come to the end and they were put into exploitation of the sportsmen. President of the National Olympic Committee said in his speech in Supreme Majlis: "We want to create best conditions in all regions of Azerbaijan. This is a key principal of the National Olympic Committee. At present, in Shaki and Barda cities of Azerbaijan new sportive structures are being built. In other regions of Azerbaijan these works continue. Construction and creation works carried out by the National Olympic Committee also cover the restoration and reconstruction of the existing sportive structures in the republic. After the Palace of Sport in Baku was equipped with new covering and equipment by the National Olympic Committee, good conditions for conduction of the international competitions were created here. European and world boxing championship among the juniors, final stages of European top-team cup among the women volleyball teams, international tournament in European scale among the handball players were held in this Palace.
In 2002 with the initiative direct participation of National Olympic Committee reconstruction and restoration works had been carried out in the biggest closed sportive structure - sportive-concert complex. In May 2002 this sportive palace received participants of 45th European free-style wrestling sportsmen. Both the guests and the observers were impressed with great sportive palace, conditions created there.
Azeri National Olympic Committee was one of the main organizers of the international competitions in the republic. With the application of the NOC president European boxing tournament among the boxers was held in 1999 for the first time in Azerbaijan. Organization of this championship at high level attracted attention of International Amateur Boxing Association. Decision on conduction of the first world boxing championship among the juniors in Baku in 2001 was taken. Support and assistance of the National Olympic Committee, active participation brought to the high-level completion of this championship. In 2001 with participation of the National Olympic Committee another competition, i.e. Bodybuilding European championship was held in Baku. In March 2002 final stages of the games among women volleyball teams fighting for the European top-team cup were held in Baku and Baku was a winner. National Olympic Committee played a big role in conduction of the final stages on volleyball games in our country. Due to this, president of the National Olympic Committee was awarded with the special reward of European Volleyball Confederation. In the competitions held in May 2002 in Baku, i.e. 45th European free-style wrestling championship Baku had become a winner again. National Olympic Committee's role in the organization was very high again. In the course of the championship the guests arrived in Baku noted that it would be possible to hold number of international competitions in larger scales in Baku.
Just having said goodbye to the participants of 45th European free-style wrestling championship held in Baku in May 2-4, 2002, it met six women handball teams. Georgian, Moldova, Greek, Israel, Brussels and Azeri handball players gave start to the second European tournament "Challenge Trophy".
This international competition is one two important tournaments organized among the combined teams of European Handball Federation (EHB). The real festival in Baku took place when Azeri handball players had become winners of this international competition held in the capital of Azerbaijan. It is the last international competition among those held in our republic. Undoubtedly, owing to the activity of the NOC, there will be a lot of such international competitions in our country in the scale of Europe and world.
Many-field activity of Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee is turning Baku into one of the sportive and Olympic centers of the world. In 2001 European Olympic Committee's "Technical cooperation" commission organized its session in Baku. In a while Executive Committee of European Olympic Committee gathered in Baku. This, visit of one of the most active groups of International Olympic Movement to our country created wonderful guarantee for familiarization with Azeri Olympic Movement. The guests were satisfied with the activity of the committee, estimated the work carried out by our committee as a sample for other national committees.
As in every National Olympic Committee, Azerbaijan national Olympic Committee selected as its first evaluation criterion - participation in the Olympic Games and the results showed in these games. In the last period Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee provided participation of our sportsmen two times in Summer and two times in Winter Olympic Games.
In 1998 our republic joined Winter Olympic Games for the first time. In XVIII Winter Olympic Games held in Japanese city of Nagano our republic was represented with 5 sportsmen. Being lead with the principle of joining Olympic Games, National Olympic Committee achieved that the name of Azerbaijan was written into the history of Winter Olympic Games. New directorate of the National Olympic Committee elected in 1997 was able to pay special attention to the preparation to Sydney Olympic Games. As a result of it, in Sydney Olympiad Azerbaijan was represented with 31 sportsmen.
Azeri sportsmen won two gold and one bronze medal in Sydney.
Azerbaijan took 34th place in the team tests among 199 countries and 23rd among European countries. It was the greatest success in the history of Olympic movement of the country.
In 2002 Azerbaijan had become a participant of Winter Olympic Games for the second time. In the games held in the US Salt Lake City our athletes were participating in three competitions.
It can be seen from the general information on ten-year work of the NOC that its activity was very multi-planned and many-field. Of course, it would be better to give information on key directions of this activity separately and wider, which could bring clearer presentation on the main works carried out.