The 2002 year will take its special place in sport history of our country not only with accomplishments attained by Azerbaijan athletes in sport world arenas but also with a number of various great international competitions held in the republic. This year sport amateurs of our republic became spectators of several continental and world class competitions on Olympic sport disciplines. National Olympic Committee rendered great assistance, support and played big role in the holding and organization of all these competitions.
However, the most accomplishments attained on chess in the Republic for the last ten years fall to youth share. A group of our young chess players were the winners of World and European Championships in various periods. All these created base for the holding of the European Chess Championship among juniors in Baku. Having taken into consideration the request of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation and the National Olympic Committee it was decided to hold the championship in our republic.
On July 14 the solemn inauguration ceremony of the European Championship where participated nearly 70 chess players from 16 countries was held. President of the European Chess Federation Boris Kutin, five times champion on chess Nona Gaprindashvili, President of the National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev, Minister for Youth. Sport and Tourism Abulfas Garayev, ambassadors of foreign countries, deputies of Milli Mijlis attended the ceremony.
President of the European Chess Federation Boris Kutin in his speech delivered at the opening ceremony having expressed his contentment with the holding of such tournament in Azerbaijan said: "Certainly, this is very remarkable event for Azerbaijan. We are very content with organization of such significant championship on high level in Azerbaijan". Nona Gaprindashvili five times World champion, Honorary President of Georgian Chess Federation in her speech at the opening ceremony mentioned rapid development of sport in Azerbaijan and said: "Azerbaijan is always known with its strong chess players. At present Azerbaijan chess school has such brilliant promising, talented chess player as Teymur Rajabov. I am aware of international class competitions held in your country for the last times. I wish you new successes, accomplishments in this field". After the art activities of the official ceremony the President of Azerbaijan Chess Federation, chairwoman of Organizing Committee of the championship, international arbiter Aynur Sofiyeva invited the President of the National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev to make the first move of the European Championship of young chess players on the scene where games would take place. Ilham Aliyev made the first move of the championship and thus the start was given.
The President of the National Olympic Committee attending the opening ceremony of the European Championship held among young chess players in his interview to journalists about the championship he said: "Azerbaijan has great traditions. It has been already mentioned in speeches delivered here. We had strong chess players before and we have at present. As you know chess crown was in Baku. Young chess player Teymur Rajabov is very talented chess player and I am sure that in near future he will be world champion. That is why I am very glad that such event is being held in Azerbaijan today. I think that this event will give impulse to the development of chess in our country".
European Championship proved that Azerbaijan chess players are truly strong.
History of continental championships holding among chess players up 20 years old has begun since 1990. Azerbaijan chess players always performed successfully in these competitions. They also performed well in continental championship held this year. Three of twenty-two young chess players representing Azerbaijan having performed high mastership won medals. Zeynab Mammadyarova among girls took the 1st place. Performing among boys Vugar Hashimov became the owner of silver, Shahriyar Mammadyarov of bronze medal. It is interesting that Georgian chess players took the rest three medals. Georgian chess player Zviad Izoriya among boys took gold, among girls Nana Chagnidze took silver, Inga Charkhanashvili bronze medal. Chess players from Russia, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, Holland and Estonia took places in the first tenth.
It is rejoicing that Faig Hasanov international arbiter on chess was chief arbiter in the European Chess Championship held in among chess players up 20 years old. Azerbaijani arbiter is one of respectable arbiters in chess world. It is for the fourth time that he took part in great international competitions as chief arbiter.
On July 24 the solemn closing ceremony of the European Chess Championship among juniors took place.
So, there are evidences of actions that were taken in order to organize International competitions in Azerbaijan during past five-year period. The scale of this process has been changed during five year period of time, while organization of international tournaments gave impulse to the beginning of this process. Since 1999 until 2002 European and one world championships were held in four different sport disciplines (boxing, wrestling, bodybuilding. chess) in the capital of the country Baku city. Azerbaijan team successfully participated in high level, large scale international competitions. Nowadays organization of international competitions in Azerbaijan have turned into tradition. Next year European Judo Championship among seniors will be organized in Azerbaijan. Agreement on holding of qualification competitions on boxing was also reached by the NOC of Azerbaijan. All these prove the fact of Azerbaijan becoming one of world sport centers. Creative activities of the National Olympic Committee in the field of building new Olympic Sport Complexes and reconstructing existing sport facilities show that in near future international competitions will be organizes not only in the capital but also in all parts of Azerbaijan.