The coming of 2500 athletes from 48 European countries was expected in Murcia in 2001. Within the framework of the European Youth Olympic Festival competitions on 10 sport disciplines - athletics, swimming, tennis, judo, football, volleyball, basketball, handball, sailing and gymnastics were held in Murcia. In the composition of the Azerbaijani delegation were 20 athletes. From these athletes seven in athletics, eight in judo, three in swimming, two in tennis competitions tried their strength. Moreover, Azerbaijani international grade referee Zair Mammadov run judo competitions in Murcia. On 22 July in the evening the solemn ceremony of the opening of the VI European Youth Olympic Festival took place. President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge in his speech having mentioned the significant role of the Olympic Movement in the life of our planet, which brings people closer to each other, strengthen friendship and establish fraternal relations among them and then he said that Youth Olympic Games were large scale continental event. The President underlined that the most of youths participating in the competitions held within the European Youth Olympic Festival were potential athletes who could gain opportunity to participate in Athens Olympic Games in 2004.
Thus, the VI European Youth Olympic Festival was declared open. The opening ceremony ended with fireworks.
Start to sport competitions that were held within the VI European Youth Olympic Festival was given. Though, our athletes could improve their individual results they could not join the fight for medals in tennis, swimming and athletics, except in judo.
Representatives of 34 out of 46 countries participated in the competitions gained medals. Azerbaijani athletes unlike their participation in the Olympic Days held in Esbjerg, Denmark two years ago where they took 4 bronze medals this time they won two silver and two bronze medals. It should be noted that up to now Azerbaijan young athletes gained 13 medals (1 gold, 4 silver, 7 bronze) and 12 of these medals were gained by our judokas and one in athletics.
Eight our athletes Arzu Maharramova (44kg) and Lylia Valiulina (57kg) among girls, Khayal Gahramanov (50kg), Rza Aliyev (55kg), Rashad Guliyev (60kg), Pasha Pashayev (73kg), Samir Sarkarov (81kg), Kenan Abdullayev (66kg) among boys represented our team in judo competitions in the Olympic Festival.
Arzu Maharramova joined the competition the first and met with Yelena Galkina athlete from Russia. Our judoka was defeated and had to continue the competition in consoling group. In this group Arzu having won complete victory over Spanish and French athletes in the bout for bronze she lost to British athlete and took the fifth place in her weight category.
Lylia Valiulina's result performing in 57kg category among girls was not good than Arzu's. She took the 7th place in the international competition where she participated for the first time.
Though Khayal Gahramanov who competed in 50kg weight category won victory over the athlete from Monaco with ippon in the first bout however, he lost to Russian judoka in the second bout. Thus, he had to continue the fight for the 3rd place. Khayal Gahramanov won victory over judoka from Belarus, Latvia and German in consoling group and gained bronze medal of competitions for our team.
Rza Aliyev performing in 55kg weight having won the victories over Spanish and Germany athletes met with the representative of Armenia in the fight for he reaching the final. Rza having attacked his opponent from the first minute of the bout won complete victory over Armenian judoka. In the final Rza couldn't managed with Israel athlete and had to suffice with silver medal.
Rashad Guliyev competing in 60kg weight category defeated Denmark athlete in the first bout, Greece athlete in the second and Finnish athlete in the third bout. Rashad had to hold the bout with Armenian athlete for the reaching the final. Our athlete won clear victory over his opponent in the first minutes of the bout. Rashad having held the bout with Georgian judoka on low level of his possibilities in the final missed gold medal.
Kenan Abdullayev performing in 66kg weight category lost two bouts in succession and left the competitions.
Pasha Pashayev performing in 73kg weight started the bout with success. In the first bout he won victory over an athlete from Belgium. He held the 1st and 3rd bouts with confidence and won victory. Athlete from Georgia prevented Pasha's successful march to the final. This defeat negatively affected on our athlete. He held the bout for bronze medal with athlete from Lithuania poor and took the 5th place of the competitions.
Samir Sarkarov performing in 81kg weight category having defeated judoka from Lithuania, Ukraine then he had to meet with Armenian athlete representing Russia. Samir won complete victory over his opponent. In the fight for the reaching the final Samir lost the bout to French judoka. Our judoka in the fight for the 3rd place won his opponent from Holland and gained bronze medal.
In 2002 World Youth Games were organized in Moscow.
Azerbaijan delegation on the games held from 14th till 24th of June 2002 in Moscow with participation of Russian regions, CIS, Baltic countries consisted of 176 members.
Participation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Mayor of Moscow Yuri Lujkov and other officials in the opening ceremony reflected serious preparation and real atmosphere of the Games. Games were successfully organized and young athletes from CIS, Baltic Countries and Russian Regions were under a special care and attention from Moscow.
Games started on 15th of June and 121 Azerbaijan athletes joined competitions in 13 sport disciplines. Some of our young athletes distinguished themselves in wonderful sport arenas where Games were held. 2 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze medals were achieved in following sport disciplines: Greco-Roman wrestling, sambo, track and field athletics. According to the quantity of medals Azerbaijan was on the 7th place from 15 participating countries. First gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling was achieved by Rovshan Bayramov in 42kg weight category. On his way to the final he won Armenian wrestler K.Malikan with a score 12:0, Russian sportsman A.Dolgikh 4:3 in semi finals, and A.Grakov in final stage with a score 6:0. E.Abdulayev in 58kg weight category became a silver medallist and A.Arzumanov in 76kg weight category received a bronze medal in this sport discipline. Other young athletes in another wrestling discipline named sambo received 1 gold and 2 bronze medals. Their names are: Nijat Shikhaliyev (45kg) gold, Elshan Ismaylov (51kg) and Islam Gasimov (48kg) bronze medallists. In track and field athletics competitions Teymur Abbasov in long jump became a bronze medallist with a result of 15.32 meters. Despite first two victories gained by our young football team, it lost in a match with Lithuanian team with a score of 3:2 and shared 5th and 6th places of the Games ranking:
Participation of the Azerbaijan team can be considered successful on the International Youth Games of CIS, Baltic Countries and Russian Regions. No doubt that Young athletes who took part in these games will achieve high results in big sport in the future and will continue their involvement into the sport and their sporting experience will increase.