SPORTS
2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games opens in Nanjing
Nanjing, August 16 (AZERTAC). The 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games opened in east China's Nanjing on Saturday evening with more than 3,700 athletes from around the world taking part in.
During the 13-day-competition sports gala, the young athletes aged between 15-18 will compete in 28 sports in arenas and stadiums in Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu Province.
Chinese President Xi Jinping declared open of the Games at the ceremony in the modern Olympic Sports Complex, where flags representing 203 National Olympic Committees paraded.
Among those present at the ceremony are Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, former IOC President Jacques Rogge, and other foreign guests.
An Azerbaijani delegation led by Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee Chingiz Huseynzade and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Ismayil Ismayilov participated in the ceremony.
After the athletes' parade, there was a stellar art performance, a brilliant combination of dazzling light, music and dance, fireworks, and cultural extravaganza.
The ceremony reached the climax when Chen Ruolin, an Olympic diving champion coming from Jiangsu Province, lit up the cauldron with an intricate design.
Azerbaijan`s squad includes 19 athletes who will contest medals in 7 events.