The Azerbaijan State News Agency

OFFICIAL NEWS

President Ilham Aliyev met with Azerbaijani athletes competing in Baku Chess Olympiad VIDEO

Baku, September 1, AZERTAC

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today met with the members of the Azerbaijan national teams who will compete in the 42nd Chess Olympiad in Baku.

The head of state made a speech at the meeting.

Speech of President Ilham Aliyev

Dear friends, 

It is a very remarkable day in Azerbaijan today. The 42nd Chess Olympiad is opening in Baku. I would like to congratulate you and all the people of Azerbaijan on this occasion. This is a major international event for our country.

It is already a tradition for Azerbaijan to host prestigious international events. As you know, Azerbaijan has successfully hosted European and world championships. Azerbaijan is already known in the world as a developed country. The vast majority of visitors to Azerbaijan return to their countries with pleasant impressions. I am sure that all the chess players competing at this Olympiad will have the chance to familiarize themselves with our city and country, will like Azerbaijan in the next two weeks and perhaps come back here as tourists in the future.

The fact that international sports events are held in Azerbaijan shows the power of our country and international respect for Azerbaijan. Last year's first European Games were held very successfully. It is possible to say that they were held at the level of summer Olympic Games. This year, we have hosted the Formula-1 Grand Prix, which has an audience of 500 million people. Next year, we will host Islamic Solidarity Games. The World Chess Olympiad starts today. According to the information I have, representatives of 175 countries will take part in the Olympiad, and this is a record figure.

In this Olympiad, Azerbaijan will be represented by three men's and three women's teams. I wish you good luck. You have successfully represented in Azerbaijan in numerous international competitions. You have shown good results. Our men's team has been European champion two times. They have also performed well in a number of other international competitions. Our leading chess players are always rated among the world's top players. So we are hopeful that you will represent the country with dignity in this competition as well.

I would like to say that most of our chess players, in fact all of them, are young. You are look good, and this is a great success of the independent Azerbaijan. You have emerged in the years of independence. Some of you were born in the years of independence. There is a bright future in store for you. You have achieved a lot in chess, and I am sure that you will find yourselves a proper place in life, and you have done that already. This is evidence that our people can develop successfully and fast only in the period of independence. Both in sports competitions and in all other areas, if we look at the history of Azerbaijan, the period of independence is the most successful. Why? Because our people are free and our fate is in our own hands. We lead Azerbaijan forward confidently. The people of Azerbaijan are seeing the benefits of independence. In sport, including chess, our biggest achievements were made in the years of independence.

In the recent Rio Olympics, our athletes set a new record. For the number of medals, we finished 14-15th globally. Our chess players have also reached great heights. I am sure that you will always delight us in the future.

The development of chess is a state policy in Azerbaijan. There are chess schools in all our cities and districts. This tradition was established by great leader Heydar Aliyev in the 1970s. Unfortunately, most of the chess schools were either shut down or sold in auctions in the early years of independence. They were replaced by shops and restaurants. This is very unfortunate. Only after Heydar Aliyev returned to Azerbaijan did chess return to its proper level. The great leader has repeatedly met with our young chess players at the time. I always see that famous picture at the opening ceremonies of chess schools in our districts - Teymur, Shahriyar, the late Vugar and Gadir.

-How old were you at the time, Shahriyar?

Shahriyar Mammadyarov: I was 10.

- The children were gathered around Heydar Aliyev, and this had a tremendous symbolic meaning. This is a new generation. A new, smart and intelligent generation. He was certain that you achieve great heights, and it happened. I also remember trying in the mid-1990s to help young chess players. I am trying to do this as President now. I am pleased that our chess players delight us, our people. You know better than anyone else that chess is an intellectual game. It shows the intellectual level of our people. We are strong both in combat sports and in intellectual sports.

I congratulate you on all your successes. I wish you good luck in this competition. I am pleased that young chess players are also taking part. I am sure that you will always please us in the future too. Once again, I congratulate you and wish you good luck."

X X X

Then they posed for photographs.

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

VIDEO

President Ilham Aliyev met with Azerbaijani athletes competing in Baku Chess Olympiad VIDEO

Hamburg reaches deal with logistics magnate to build new opera house

Azerbaijan Community: This is a direct provocation against Azerbaijan’s religious and cultural dignity

Azerbaijani boxers win six medals in Serbia

Common sleep medication may prevent brain from clearing 'waste'

The link between headache disorders and suicide—a 25-year Danish cohort study

Dozens killed in bus crash in southern Mexico

Concert of Azerbaijani composers' music held in Paris

Heydar Aliyev Foundation receives Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Educational Facilities in Islamic world

"Diwani Lughat al-Turk" international exhibition opens in Kazakhstan

About 200 people relocated after fatal landslide in SW China's Sichuan

Astana hosts concert of Turkic peoples' music "Tamyr"

Hamas releases 3 more Israeli captives amid Gaza ceasefire deal

Pakistani GovInsider: Azerbaijan’s journey towards proactive e-services to citizens

Azerbaijan Army’s marines participate in AMAN-25 Exercise and AMAN Dialogue

Bayern Munich 3-0 Werder Bremen: Kane and Sane stretch Bundesliga leaders' advantage

“Winter Fairy Tale” International Music Festival kicks off with grand opening ceremony in Gabala

Azerbaijani delegation attends quadrilateral meeting on green energy cooperation in Türkiye

Pakistani teenage girl appointed UNICEF's Youth Advocate for Climate Action

Heydar Aliyev International Airport: Flight safety is fully ensured and all flights operate on schedule

Azerbaijan, Caribbean Community discuss cooperation

Italy does not sign against US sanctions on ICC

Missing commuter plane found crashed on Alaska sea ice and all 10 aboard are dead, authorities say

Italy’s Aeolian island residents spooked by quake

Gothenburg to host 2027 MTB Euro Championships

Trial continues for individuals of Armenian origin accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war and other grave crimes

Azerbaijan, Armenia exchange views on clarifying fate of missing persons

Nizami Ganjavi International Center hosts official reception on 12th Global Baku Forum

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry outlines main priorities for 2025

President Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of new park near “Ganjlik” metro station in Baku VIDEO

® Baku hosts conference on innovative digitalization solutions

Astana hosts 2nd meeting of Council of Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation

SBI Markets: Azerbaijan's investment climate is positive - INTERVIEW

Tesla sales crash in Germany as CEO Musk continues political activism

Azerbaijani MPs to attend Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in New York

January 2025 transfer window breaks multiple records in both men’s and women’s football

Online sales of Azerbaijani products launch in Turkmenistan

Azerbaijan's figure skater grabs bronze in Italian tournament

Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos signs for Liga MX's Monterrey

'Ionic wind' vortex ring launchers extinguish fires cleanly and safely

Azerbaijani freestyle wrestlers claim two more medals in Zagreb Open 2025 Ranking Series

Bank Respublika starts cooperation with Baku Higher Oil School

FIFA suspends Congolese Football Association and Pakistan Football Federation

6.0-magnitude quake hits south of Fiji Islands

Head of Presidential Administration Samir Nuriyev introduces new Minister of Finance to staff

Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel

The Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
On appointing A.R.Aliyev as Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Two dead after plane crashes into vehicles on busy road in Sao Paulo

Azerbaijani Para taekwondo fighters aim for 'medal rush' in Turkish tournament

Somali Council of Ministers approves cooperation agreements with Azerbaijan

Severe weather disrupts air traffic in South Korea

Kazakhstan ranks among world's top 50 countries for FDI

® Solid business performance and record tax payments by Carlsberg Azerbaijan in 2024

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expresses gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev on behalf of Turkish people

Amazon follows Google, Meta, and Microsoft with plans to boost spending on AI

“Garabagh University Clinic” public legal entity to be established - ORDER

Magnitude 3.1 quake jolts Caspian Sea

Alaska authorities search for missing passenger plane with 10 on board

Scientists predict devastation if asteroid Bennu strikes Earth in 2182

Azerbaijan and Slovakia hold first consular consultations

Bulgarian scientists developing antibacterial surfaces for restoring damaged bone tissue

Premier League considers cutting winter transfer window to two weeks

Azerbaijan sends additional humanitarian aid consisting of electrical equipment to Ukraine

“Winter Fairy Tale” International Music Festival to begin in Gabala today

Air pollution kills 100 children every day in East Asia, Pacific: UNICEF

Omega-3 supplements slow biological ageing

Overall, people feel better about life in the morning

7 killed in floods, landslides in northeast Brazil

Oil prices surge in global markets

6.0-magnitude quake hits Southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia

Azerbaijani oil approaches $77

Trial continues for individuals of Armenian origin accused of committing numerous crimes against Azerbaijani people

UEFA weighs up scrapping extra time for Champions League knockout rounds

Azerbaijan’s NGOs to present digital map of Armenia’s environmentally hazardous enterprises

2 pilots die in light aircraft crash in Moscow region

Azerbaijan names badminton line-up for upcoming European Championships in Baku

Commission on Combating Corruption convenes meeting

Russian Foreign Ministry confirms Moscow`s receipt of note verbale on terminating activities of “Russian House” in Baku

Symposium held at Central Military Polyclinic of the Defense Ministry

UK to make it easier to build nuclear reactors

® Azercell supports women entrepreneurs in Sheki

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry: Note verbale sent to Russian side, terminating activities of “Russian House”

January 2025 the warmest on record: Copernicus

Turkish officials mark 2nd anniversary of 2023 earthquakes

SOCAR and UAE’s Crescent Petroleum company discuss prospects for cooperation

The Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
On appointing S.R.Babayev as Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Three policemen killed, 5 injured in terrorist attack in Pakistan

Former Real Madrid star Marcelo retires from football

6th UAE aid ship arrives at Al Arish Port with relief for Gaza

Two young Azerbaijani badminton players enter BWF’s Top 100

Businessmen of Kyrgyzstan and China sign 19 agreements worth $700 million

Loon-like waterfowl from dinosaur-era Antarctica is oldest 'modern' bird

BSU, Suleyman Demirel University of Kazakhstan sign memorandum of understanding

SOCAR, Slovenian companies explore prospects for expanding cooperation

Belarus sends humanitarian aid to flood victims in Kenya

SOCAR, Tatarstan’s companies discuss cooperation prospects

Asteroid impact on moon blasted two grand canyons in 10 minutes

Central Bank fully covers $54.5 million demand at FX auction

Aircraft crashes in southern Philippines

Ombudsman: Armenia must provide accurate information on burial sites of murdered civilians

China’s BYD to launch electric bus production facility in Azerbaijan