SPORTS
MEETING IN THE NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
Greeting the guests, the Minister pointed out that the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism, Azerbaijan Judo Federation are organizers of the Junior World Judo Championship which has started today in Baku. This sport is very popular in Azerbaijan, there are Olympic, European, World and international tournament champions among Azerbaijani Judo fighters. This factor was taken into consideration when making a decision by the European Judo Federation on place of the next junior championship, Minister said.
He expressed gratitude to the leaders of the Federation and personally to Maries Viser for sport equipment and expressed a hope that good organization of this championship may become the basis for holding European Judo Championship in the capital of Azerbaijan
He informed the guests on public and political stability in the country achieved due to foreign and domestic policy carried out by President Heydar Aliyev, active development of sports in the country after Ilham Aliyev was elected as President of the National Olympic Committee in 1997.
President of the European Judo Federation Marias Viser stressed positive success of Azerbaijan in development of sport, construction of new sport complexes and said it was directly connected with favorable economic situation in the country. He asked the Minister to convey the President of NOC of Azerbaijan congratulations on his appointment as Prime Minister and to hand him in a remembrance gift.
The leaders of Judo Federation will put on discussion the offer of Azerbaijan to hold in Bakuthe European Judo Championship, which obtains the status of open championship in the year of 2005.