DEVELOPMENT OF SPORT IN THE COUNTRY

In November 1993 President of the Republic of Azerbaijan received Azeri sportsmen demonstrated high results in the competitions of the world and European scale. In the meeting president of the republic said that the sportsmen must have been covered with the special care of the government. The care must serve to the development of the sport in our country, opening of the potential opportunities of the sportsmen. Head of the state noted on creation of wider opportunities for the development of sport in the country.

Heydar Aliyev has also become an initiator and inspirer of the expansion of Olympic Movement in Azerbaijan. In April 1994 head of the country received president of International Olympic Committee Chuan Antonio Samaranch, president of the National Olympic Committees Association Mario Vaskes Ranan, president of European Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge. Wide exchange of views on the conditions and development perspectives was conducted during the meeting. In three months after the meeting with the decree of the president Ministry of Youth and Sport was established in Azerbaijan. The key directions of the activity of the Ministry were specified in the decree. The president included the followings into the circle of key issues to be realized for the development of the sport in the country: maintenance of the existing sportive bases, stadiums, areas and gyms, provision of their reconstruction and application according to the destination; construction of new sportive bases, areas, stadiums and gyms, equipping them with the required facilities; opening of the sportive sections and clubs; training of sportive specialists; conduction of the country championships and other competitions; provision of participation of the sportsmen in international competitions; attention and care to the sportsmen demonstrated high results in the competitions; awarding of the sportsmen; conduction of international competitions in Azerbaijan; attraction of the children and youth to the sport in wider scale.

The above-mentioned measures must have been realized with the activity of the structures engaged directly or in any way in the organization of the free time of the population, work with the youth, sport.

The aggressive war conducted by Armenia against Azerbaijan had caused heavy damages to Azeri economics. In this period it was difficult to spend required means for the development of sport. According to the directions of the president, all the opportunities were used maximally for the sport. In spite of it, head of the country noted that it wasn't enough yet: "In the life of our republic there are a lot of difficulties, problems. One of the problems is that we can't spend required sums, can't create required conditions for the development of sport". On 5 March 1995 new decree was signed. According to that decree population of the Republic Azerbaijan the sportive fund under the President of Azerbaijan was established with the purpose of increase of the interest of youth to the sport and creation of the real provision so that Azeri sportsmen could participate in the international scale, national organization of the sportive propaganda, development of the material-technical basis in the physical development and living healthy life of the population.