On 23 June, the Grand-Prix final stage of international tournament on Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling opened in Baku’s Heydar Aliyev Sports Complex.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of contests.

The audience cheered the head of Azerbaijan state.

About 200 sportsmen (men and women) from 28 countries will compete in 7 weight categories. 11 wrestlers represent Azerbaijan.

After the parade of sportsmen ended, speaking was the minister of youth and sports of Azerbaijan Azad Rahimov, who welcomed the contenders, noting rich experience of Azerbaijan in conducting authoritative international sports contests. ‘This far-sighted policy is connected to the name of nationwide leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. Now, this policy is continued by President Ilham Aliyev, who heads the National Olympic committee of the Republic’, the Minister emphasized.

Minister Rahimov expressed gratitude to heads of FILA for conducting in the capital of Azerbaijan the present contests.

FILA President Rafael Martinetti, greeting the participants of ceremony, noted that choice of Azerbaijan for conducting the present tournament was not casually, and it is connected with nice traditions of organizing here sports action of international scale. Mr. Martinetti expressed gratitude to the head of Azerbaijan state for care and attention shown for development of sports.

At ceremony, also speaking was president of the Wrestling Federation of Azerbaijan Abbas Abbasov, who greeted the contenders among whom there are winners of Olympic, World and Europe champs.

FILA president handed over to the President of Azerbaijan the first gold medal established by this international sports organization.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also took part at ceremony of rewarding of the first prizewinners of the contests. He presented the gold medal to the Azeri sportsmen Rovshan Bayramov vying in 55 kg weight category.

Head of the Azerbaijan state, FILA heads and the winners were taken their photos in memory.