President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, first vice-president of SOCAR, deputy of Milli Majlis Ilham Aliyev took part in the 1st plenary session of the heads of National Olympic Committees and bodies of the state management of sport of the countries-members of International sportive youth games of COS states and Baltic countries, which took place on March 21.

This session is an important stage of preparation for conduction of such large-scale sportive events, which will take place in Moscow from 14 to 24 June of the current year. It should be reminded that all CIS and Baltic countries, including Azerbaijan, expressed their intention to take part in those competitions.

As Azerbaijan NOC president Ilham Aliyev informed correspondent of AzerTAJ, our country paid great attention to conduction of such games and had already submitted an application for the participation in them. According to his words, 114 Azeri sportsmen will take part in the competitions of 12 kinds of sport. I.Aliyev informed that Azeri sportsmen were taking part in the World youth games in the capital of Russia in 1998, where they took 27th place among 139 countries winning gold, silver and bronze medals. "We pay great attention to the children and youth sport in Azerbaijan, which in its turn, establishes good basis allowing achievement of high results in the prestige international tournaments in future. International competitions of high level, in particular world and European boxing champions among the juniors have been conducted in Baku regularly. I would like to remind that Azeri sportsmen won 2 gold and 1 bronze medals in Sydney Olympiad taking 3rd and 4th places among 200. Taking into account the fact that youth competitions give good results and bring much benefit, I accepted the invitation of Moscow mayor Y.Lujkov and decided to take part personally in this session in order to note about the clear notion what is required to be done before the conduction of those competitions", - he said.

President of Azerbaijan NOC also stated that Baku would be able to become the capital of the next International sportive youth games. According to his words, if such decision is taken, Azerbaijan guarantees creation of all required conditions for conduction of such event at the highest level.

I.Aliyev noted that many modern sportive objects meeting the international standards had been constructed for the last 2-3 years in the republic. 2 sportive Olympic complexes have been built in Baku and the construction of the analogous objects in other cities of Azerbaijan has been passing. At present the reconstruction of the sportive-concert complex housing 8 thousand persons, which should be completed by this May - that time European free-style wrestling championship will take place in Baku - is being carried out. "In a word, there are all conditions and the appropriate experience for conduction of the international competitions in Azerbaijan and we may guarantee the high level of their organization", - said Ilham Aliyev in a conclusion.

BAKU.23.03.2002.AzerTAg