The Azerbaijan State News Agency

SPORTS

'Azerbaijan – Sport in Focus' comes to the National Museum of Sport in Nice

Baku, March 18 AZERTAC

The French office of The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) and the National Museum of Sport in Nice inaugurated the photographic exhibition 'Azerbaijan – Sport in Focus', organised with the support of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and Baku 2015 European Games Organising Committee (BEGOC). To be hosted from 12–28 June, the European Games will feature 20 sports – 16 of which are Olympic disciplines. It is thought that more than 6000 athletes from over 50 countries will be hosted in Baku.

During the opening of the exhibition, attended by politicians, diplomats, photographers, sports aficionados and members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Nice, a total of 65 photos were showcased. These were selected from more than 300 submissions to the photography competition of the same name organised by TEAS.

The evening began with an opening speech by Annie Lheritier, President of the Board of the National Museum of Sports, who paid a moving tribute to the victims of the tragic helicopter crash that occurred two days earlier. This claimed the lives of sailor Florence Arthaud, boxer Alexis Vastine, and Olympic champion swimmer Camille Muffat.

Gilles Veissiere, Deputy Mayor of the City of Nice, in charge of Sport; Jean-Pierre Mougin, Vice-President, CNOSF; Marie-Laetitia Gourdin, Head, TEAS France and Nigar Huseynova, Adviser for Political Affairs, Azerbaijani Embassy in France, also took the floor to express their emotions and extend their condolences to the bereaved families.

Then Ms Lheritier expressed her delight at hosting this exhibition at the National Museum of Sports. This is the first museum in France to be dedicated to sports, and holds one of the most extensive collections of its kind in the world.

Mr Veissiere stressed his delight at the decision to organise this exhibition in the city of Nice. He commented: “I have had the opportunity to referee about 100 football games in international competitions around the world, but unfortunately never in Azerbaijan. I sincerely hope that the European Games will be an opportunity for me to discover Azerbaijan, and its capital Baku, which has much in common with the city of Nice.”

Mr Mougin said: “France will send a delegation of around 270 athletes to the European Games. It is the second largest delegation behind Germany – a signal of the strong commitment of France to these historic Games. The CNOSF is proud to be associated with TEAS and Baku 2015 to promote the European Games in France through this exhibition, which will also be hosted in June at the CNOSF headquarters in Paris.”

Ms Gourdin explained: “These Games will be the first of their type in Europe, and this historic event will be held in Baku – the capital of the young and dynamic Azerbaijan – which is organising a high-level international sports competition for the first time.”

Ms Gourdin went on to present second prizewinner Paul Robion with a certificate for his photograph entitled Ipanema – Rio de Janeiro. Mr Robion is a French photographer and filmmaker, based in Paris. She continued: “This stunning photograph is also emblematic of the link between the European Games and the Summer Olympics to be held in Rio, Brazil, in 2016. In fact, 12 of the sports in the European Games contribute towards qualification for the Rio Olympics.”

Ms Huseynova said: “The practice of sport is a considered to be a way of promoting peace. It surpasses the limits of geographical borders and social classes. Sport is a powerful tool for promoting the ideals of brotherhood, solidarity, non-violence, tolerance and justice. Sport has the capacity to unite people. I think this spirit is embodied in this TEAS photographic competition and has managed to develop two important elements – which are culture and sport – contributing to the strengthening of friendship and solidarity between peoples.”

The exhibition will be open to the public from 13–29 March 2015. Following the exhibition in Nice, Azerbaijan – Sport in Focus will be shown in several European capitals and cities – namely Maastricht, Brussels, Istanbul and Berlin, before returning to France. It will be exhibited in Paris at the CNOSF headquarters from 4–28 June, thereby including the entire duration of the Games in Baku.

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

GUAM member states step up efforts to combat human trafficking and illegal migration

Scientists chronicle earliest stages of a supernova

Another 35 families relocated to Fuzuli city get house keys

Magnitude 6 earthquake rocks southern Greece

Biden administration approves $60M to rebuild Baltimore Bridge

Alzheimer's may be able to spread to organ transplant patients, study suggests - as experts call for dementia screening for all donors

Azerbaijan’s three judokas vie for medals at Antalya Grand Slam 2024

One of military units holds command-staff exercise

China’s Phoenix TV channel airs interview with Azerbaijan’s presidential assistant VIDEO

Central Bank: Azerbaijan records $3 billion in foreign direct investments in 2023

Azerbaijani gymnasts to compete in 2024 FIG World Challenge Cup

Azerbaijan joins IAF Spring Meetings 2024

Azerbaijan draws $6.7 billion in FDI in 2023 VIDEO

Azerbaijani Ombudsperson issues statement on March 31 - Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis

Getting too little sleep linked to high blood pressure

China's internet sector sees steady growth in first two months

Türkiye and Azerbaijan collaborate on historical film production

Georgian PM highlights religious diversity as “one of main wealth” of the country

Azerbaijani oil price climbs above $89

Azerbaijan relocates 138 more residents to Fuzuli city VIDEO

Transit officials approve New York City traffic congestion fee

Azerbaijani weightlifters to fight for glory at 2024 IWF World Cup

Taha Ayhan: We want to share the story of the liberation of Shusha with the whole world

Hirshhorn at 50: ‘Revolutions’ offers an artistic journey through time, Arts innovations

Attacks in NYC transit jump a massive 50% as subway murders surge: stats

Protocol signed to implement Shusha OIC Youth Capital-2024 program

Pope appears in better health, praises Israeli and Arab fathers who both lost daughters in conflict

Latvian foreign minister resigns amid private flights controversy

Azerbaijan's Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population meets with UNDP Resident Representative

Rediscovered Raphael masterpiece to be exhibited in French Basilica

Draft law on Corsica`s autonomy adopted. MP Josepha Giacometti Piredda protests describing it as “shackles”

China’s CATL to cut its EV battery costs by up to 50% this year, heralding a price war

UN chief applauds Türkiye's Global Zero Waste Initiative, calls for end to waste cycle

Azerbaijani ambassador meets with representatives of Egyptian media outlets

Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 38 PKK/YPG terrorists over past week

Azerbaijani boxers claim 2 golds at Great Silk Way international tournament

Azerbaijani female boxers claim nine medals at Great Silk Way International Tournament-2024

From Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa

With 783 million people going hungry, a fifth of all food goes to waste, UN says

Trump leads Biden by 5 points in new national poll

Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee meets with Egyptian ambassador

Georgian Gov’t approves 2024-2025 climate change action plan

Guivami Rahimli: “…Azerbaijan’s aim is to transform the role of energy in international relations from fueling disagreements to oiling cooperation…”

Azerbaijani Ombudsperson meets with residents of Armenian origin in Khankendi

Seoul bus drivers go on general strike

Azerbaijan to pin hopes on seven female gymnasts at 35th Rhythmic Gymnastics International Grand Prix in France

Western Azerbaijan Community issues statement

Practical classes held with Military Institute’s cadets

Telescope shares clear image of Sagittarius A* black hole in Milky Way Galaxy

Artificial intelligence laboratory launched at Baku Higher Oil School for first time among higher education institutions in Azerbaijan

Election results confirm Bassirou Diomaye Faye's victory in Senegal's presidential race

Azerbaijani oil price declines in global markets

Oil prices surge in global markets

Moscow checks, discusses with Baku alleged arms deliveries to Kiev — MFA

Russian diplomat accuses France of intelligence operations in Caucasus

Childbirths in S. Korea hit another low in January

Azerbaijani delegation of Chamber of Accounts visits US

China opens WTO dispute against US subsidies to protect its EV industry

Aykhan Hajizade: We strongly condemn anti-Azerbaijani allegations in report prepared by group led by Rasmussen

Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts

Türkiye says it will always ‘stand shoulder to shoulder’ with Pakistan in fight against terrorism

Obama, fearing Biden loss to Trump, is on the phone to strategize

Georgian PM, Parliament Speaker nominate national football team for Medal of Honour

Türkiye to host 2027 European Games

Passenger traffic at Baku Airport increased by more than 30% during the holidays

Number of those injured in Moscow attack rises to 360

35 more families relocated to Fuzuli city get house keys VIDEO

Controversial Titanic floating door prop sells for $718,750

Humans pass more viruses to other animals than we catch from them

On World Theatre Day, ICESCO calls for greater integration of “father of all arts” into school curricula

Black Carbon: Not just pollutant, but also driver of global warming

From Daniel Noboa Azín, Constitutional President of the Republic of Ecuador

Two Azerbaijani boxers qualify for final of Great Silk Way International Tournament-2024

1 in 3 migrant deaths occur en route to escape conflict: UN migration agency

ICESCO obtains Observer status in Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network

China sends multirole satellite into orbit VIDEO

® Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic elected Honorary Member of the Editorial Board of the My Azerbaijan International Magazine

Japan aims to launch next-generation passenger aircraft by around 2035

Global oil prices drop

Austria stun Türkiye 6-1 in international friendly

Six workers presumed dead after crippled cargo ship knocks down Baltimore bridge

Azerbaijani oil price drops on world markets

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry: Statements by EU and US clearly have a one-sided and biased character VIDEO

2 UK ministers resign, forcing Sunak into Cabinet reshuffle

Poland, Ukraine bag EURO 2024 tickets

Azerbaijan relocates 35 more families to Fuzuli city VIDEO

Speaker of Azerbaijan's Parliament meets with ICESCO Director General

Attack on Turkish nationals in Belgium demonstrates PKK terror threat to Western Europe: Türkiye

Moldovan delegation addresses appeal to PACE regarding Azerbaijan

AI plays key role in protecting Australia's giant kelp forests

ANAMA: 462.1 hectares of territory cleared of mines and UXOs over past week

Moscow court arrests eighth suspect in Crocus City Hall terrorist attack case

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry: Another stronghold of Armenians found in Karabakh region

Global Times newspaper hails Azerbaijan-China relations as "Gold standard friendship"

Over 1.6M competitors applied to technology contests at Türkiye's TEKNOFEST

Western Azerbaijan Community strongly condemns Tovio Klaar's anti-Azerbaijani stance and approach violating media freedom

Boeing CEO to step down in management shake-up as manufacturing issues plague storied plane maker

Geneva hosts 3rd Conference of Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network

To His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Death toll in Moscow terror attack rises to 139: Russia