Famous in our country with its traditions and successes gained from the created day and serving faithfully to our people, the only Higher School of Physical Culture and Sport specialist training school - Azerbaijan State Physical Culture and Sport Academy is 70 years old. Established in 1930 and being the only higher school of this kind in the South Caucasus, 39 sport coaches and sport specialists graduated from the Academy. First time at the institute were created 11 chairs. Classes held in Azerbaijan, Russian, Georgian and Armenian languages. At the beginning the education was 3 years, then 4 year educational system was adopted. It continued its work from 1936 as Higher Caucasus State Institute of Sport Training. During this period the following chairs were opened: chair of anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, physiology, technology and method of sport training, mathematics, hygiene, social sciences.

During the II World War hundreds of teachers and students of the Institute armed for to defense their country, part of them - Z. Rzayev, A. Babayev, L. Bahriyev, G. Ganiyev, S. Aliyev, V. Litvinova, D. Kadirli and others worked with selflessness at home front, treating wounded soldier by sport training.

Post-war years in Azerbaijan again gave scope range to sport training and sport movement. Our sportsmen successfully participated at the USSR Championships, Khandadashov, Madatov, the track and field athletes, for the first time renewed USSR record in Lengthwise jump. Wrestlers and boxers achieved successes at the all-union and international competitions. In 1952 Rashid Mammadbeyov participated at the first USSR Olympic Games and won the first silver medal. During the years of 1950-60 Azerbaijan sport and developed, the teachers, students and pupils were the winners and got prices at many competitions. In 1957 Azerbaijan sportsmen for the first time won USSR Cup of volleyball. One of the winner of those days, professor Ogtay Agayev now leads the chair of volleyball at the academy.

Participants of four Olympic Games, Inna Riskal owner of gold and 3 silver medals, Olympic champion Rafiga Shabanova, Lyudmila Shubina, Ilgar Mammadov, Igor Ponomarev, Boris Koretski, Lyudmila Savkina, Valeri Belenki, Nazim Huseynov, three times world and Europe champions Khazar Isayev, Samir Ibragimov, Rovshan Huseynov, Aydin Niftullayev, Telman Pashayev, Rafig Hadjiyev, Ali Aliyev and others are the graduates of the Academy.

During 70 years more than 15000 higher school specialists graduated from the Academy. And now news of them comes from different places of the world. It must be made a few remarks at the merit of professors and teacher of the Institute in the training of these specialists, especially USSR honoured coaches A. Agalarov, T. Abbasov, Sh. Shamkhalov, A. Safarov and others.

At the moment the professors of the Academy Sh. Huseynov, R. Galibov, Kh. Gurbanov, young docent F. Huseynov, H. Alakbarov, R. Bagirov and the others are the students of the above mentioned teachers.

In order to involve the youths to sport and promote physical culture and sport among the population in 1960 were made some decisions. Since 1960, following the election of Heydar Aliyev a leadership, the construction of the building had been and in 1972 were the opening at the Institute.

During the 70 years role of the Academy in the development of Azerbaijan Physical Culture and Sport was great. The Academy prepared not only the sportsmen but it was also a science and pedagogical center, on the sport and physical culture spheres were held researches and methodical recommendations worked out. Nowadays at the Academy work more than 200 professors and teacher.

The progress of Azerbaijan Olympic Movement has began from 1997 after the election of the I Vice-President of Azerbaijan State Oil Company Ilham Aliyev the President of Azerbaijan NOC.

23 athletes out of 31, qualified and got a licenses of the Olympic games, and they were the students and graduates Namig Abdullayev, Zemfira Meftahallinova are the champions and Vugar Alakberov won the bronze medal at the Sydney Olympic Games. NOA was established on the base of the institute and accepted obligation to propagandize among the youth and generally among the population in our country Olympic ideals, healthy life style, fair play and the norms of behavior.

In the 1999 National Olympic Academy held its 1st International Scientific conference, entitled "The history of Olympism and Philosophy". At the conference that continued more than two days was presented more than 30 speeches by the representatives, scientists and experts of various higher schools and sports organizations as well as those from Russia, Georgia. The speakers made speech on the following themes: the history and philosophy of the Olympism, Humanism, Culture and art in the Olympic Movement, Olympic Education System and other.

The professors and teacher of the Academy are working at various themes devoted to the actual problems of physical culture and sport. They regularly give methodic and scientific help to the national teams of the different kinds of sport. The teachers of the academy are the authors more than of 3 thousands of books, monographs, science and methodic supplies and articles. Last year the number of candidates of science are increased.

According to the 42th Decree dated 23 March of 1999, the Ministry of Azerbaijan Republic renamed Azerbaijan State Institute of Physical Culture into Azerbaijan Physical Culture and Sport Academy.

On April 7, 2001 Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sport held the ceremony devoted to 70-anniversary of its creation. The anniversary was held at the academy, at the anniversary took part the Chief of the Executive Department Ramiz Mehdiyev, the members of the Executive Committee of the EOC, the President of Azerbaijan NOC Ilham Aliyev, the assistance's of Prime Minister, the Ministers, parliamentarian members, heads of the Higher Schools and other officials. Paying a visit to the USA President of Azerbaijan Republic Heydar Aliyev, in spite of this plenty of work, sent a congratulation telegram to the Academy.

According to the President's Decree 4 workers of the academy were granted by the "Prosperity" medal. Azerbaijan Sport Academy is 70. It is not so big period. But if we turn over the pages we can see that its history is meaningful, interesting and rich. We can see that at the junction of Europe and Asia, the colleagues of the academy will shine the educational light burned 70 years ago, and do their best for independence of Azerbaijan and its sport development.