Olympic Games, founded in ancient Greece, possess beautiful traditions. Yet during the first Olympic Games performances of athletes were accompanied with art and culture actions. During these competitions speakers were giving speech, poets reading poems, musicians performing their works, plays shown.

Pierre de Coubertin, who achieved restoration of Olympic Games, advanced in 1906 idea of organization of art contests during Games. In 1912-1948 such contests were directly included in programs of Olympic Games. In the contests works of architecture, coloring and sculpture were shown, artistic and music works were performed. Works of contest laureates were awarded with Olympic medals. This wonderful tradition is continued today in a bit different way.

In modern time in frame of Olympic Movement different art contests, exhibitions and other actions are periodically held.

International Olympic Committee got special institutions dealing with culture affairs.

Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee pays big attention in its activity to culture and art issues. Since 1997 culture commission has been functioning within NOC.

In 1997 International Olympic Committee organized special contest "Olympic Games in the eyes of children" for children. Azerbaijani child artists partook in this contest with 25 works on the initiative of National Olympic Committee.

Letter sent by chair of International Olympic Committee's Culture Commission Zhenliang Hen to Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee informed of success of Azeri child artists.

Jury, consisted of director of Lausanne Art School Perry Keller, Olympic medalist and artist Blaze, Pedro D.Palakois from Barcelona, coordinator of International Olympic Committee's Culture Commission and curator of Olympic Museum Franchoyz Pound, evaluated 1100 works of art sent from 47 countries, selected best of them. On the unanimous decision of jury, work "In tennis competition" of Azerbaijani Chinara Mammadova was valued as best work among works sent to contest by children aged 12-16, and little Chinara won the first award of contest.

In contest of children aged 9-11, Baku schoolboy Sasha Dinets's indicator board "Boxing" took place in top five.

Young artists were sent special diplomas signed by president of International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch.

President of Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev particularly mentioned success of children having represented Republic in the contest with dignity, presented them gifts of National Olympic Committee in meeting of Executive Committee.