On November 29 grand opening of the modern Olympic sporting center took place in Mashtaga settlement of Sabunchi region of the city of Baku. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev took part in the ceremony. Thousands of people, sportsmen gathered in front of sporting center, which meets all European standards, met head of our state with the laud applauses. Posy was given to the leader of our republic.

President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev cut the read line, which was symbolizing opening of Olympic sporting center. Expressing gratitude to President Heydar Aliyev on behalf of inhabitants of the settlement and region deputy of Milli Majlis from Mashtaga region ASMATKHANIM MAMMADOVA said:
- Sir President, We are very grateful to you. It is very nice sporting center. We express you our sincere gratitude on behalf of both the aged and the young and not only on behalf of Mashtaga's inhabitants but also the people gathered here from Pirshagi, Nardaran, Zabrat, Kurdakhani, Bilga regions that you established the conditions for the construction of such a complex for our youth and now it has been put into exploitation by the president of Olympic Committee, deputy of Milli Majlis, experienced son of the wise politician of our nation Ilham Aliyev.

HEYDAR ALIYEV:
-There have never been such a complex in Mashtaga. How many months have passed since you raised this question?
ASMATKHANUM MAMMADOVA:
-Sir President, we had a conversation on March 7.
HEYDAR ALIYEV:
-Yes. You told me about it in March. And I told it to Ilham. It is December now and we are opening it. Look, what a beautiful complex has been built for such a short period.
ASMATKHANUM MAMMADOVA:
-CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR 4-5 MONTHS. It is very beautiful. Let Allah send him sound health. We all are grateful to him.
HEYDAR ALIYEV:
-You showed initiative as a deputy from Mashtaga. Another deputy Ilham Aliyev granted a wish of the Mashtaga. I came here to celebrate its opening.
ASMATKHANUM MAMMADOVA:
-Sir President, I wish you sound health as well. You are welcome. We thank Ilham Aliyev for turning our dream into reality.

Then, ceremony of grand opening took place in the big sporting room of Olympic sporting center. In the room, which was decorated in sporting style, there were transparencies with the words of President Heydar Aliyev. There wasn't anything during the period of independence that could make happy our nation as this victory, this achievement. Taking care of physical training, sport, we do our duty for our nation, people, Motherland. President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, deputy of Milli Majlis Ilham Aliyev gave a speech in the ceremony as well.

SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, DEPUTY OF MILLI MAJLIS ILHAM ALIYEV

Dear Sir President! Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! Dear sportsmen! Today is very field day in the sporting life of Azerbaijan. Here, in Mashtaga, new sporting complex, which meets all world standards, has been built here and it is placed at the disposal of the sportsmen. I congratulate all of you with it. 2001 - was very successful year for Azeri sport. The previous years were successful as well but 2001 pleased us very much. Because, as usual, in a year, which follows Olympic games, the sportsmen don't gain any considerable results, they prefer resting. However, our sportsmen in Azerbaijan showed very high results in 2001. Our sportsmen gained 173 medals, 54 out of which were gold ones, at different international competitions, world and European championships. It is pleasant that the sport in Azerbaijan is developing in all directions. All kinds of sport are developing. Our sportsmen raise the highest stairs in traditional kinds of sport and new kinds for Azerbaijan as well at international competitions. Our sportsmen were honored with the medals of European and world championships on stand shooting, box, wrestling, heavy athletics, judo, karate, taekvondo and other kinds of sport within this year.

Our activity was highly appreciated by international sporting structures. Former president of International Olympic Committee sir Samaranch and present president sir Rog being in Baku and at different international conferences estimated highly the work, which has been carried out for the last years in Azerbaijan in the field of sport. International sporting structures respect us very much, they believe in us. Exactly in the result of this belief and respect conduction of the competitions of the world level in Azerbaijan became possible. You know that European and world championships on box among juniors were held in Azerbaijan. Session of the executive committee of European Olympic Committee took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. Next year free-style wrestling championship among the adults will take place here. Dear guests! The care of the sport in Azerbaijan is at the governmental level. President of the Azerbaijan Republic Sir Heydar Aliyev always rakes care of the sport, our sportsmen. Exactly due to this care and attention all these successes became possible. We have wonderful sporting traditions. And we have strong potential, strong young sportsmen. As I have just said, all kinds of sport are developing very fast. The most pleasant is that we are looking forward to the future with great optimism. Because, our young sportsmen show very high results. We need medals of Olympic games, medals of European and world championships. However, at the same time we need healthy youth, healthy nation. That is why National Olympic Committee tries to provide mass character of the sport in Azerbaijan. With this purpose it is decided to build new sporting buildings in all regions of Azerbaijan.

Last year Olympic Sporting Complex has been built in Baku. Construction of sporting complexes is being conducted in Nakhichevan, Ganja, Barda, Sheki. It is decided to construct sporting complex in Lankaran. In the end, here in Mashtaga settlement we gathered at the opening of wonderful sporting complex. I may say that the initiator of the construction of this sporting complex was exactly sir President. A few months ago reps of Mashtaga settlement applied to the President with request to render assistance in construction of new sporting complex there. And he charged us with this work. We have done it and today we have wonderful sporting holiday here. Sir President, I promise that the National Olympic Committee will continue its work in this direction and such sporting complex buildings will be constructed in all regions of Azerbaijan. Dear friends, I congratulate you with opening of this sporting complex. I wish the sportsmen successes and new victories. Thank you.

President of the Azerbaijan Republic gave an extensive speech in the ceremony of opening of the sporting center.

Minister of Youth, sport and tourism Abulfaz Garayev, chief of affairs of executive machinery of the Presdient Fatma Abdullazade and Ali Hasanov, head of executive power of the city of Baku Hajibala Abutalibov, deputies of Milli Majlis, ministers, heads of the committees and companies, ambassadors of foreign countries in our republic and other officials took part in the ceremony.

Azertaj 03 01 2002