SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
Dear friends!
Today is very remarkable day in my life. I have been awarded today the highest order of the International Olympic Committee. So, I first want to express my deep gratitude to the International Olympic Committee, its leadership - President Mr. Jasques Rogge and Vice -president Mr. Vitaliy Smirnov.
At the same time, today is very important, very significant day in the sport life of Azerbaijan. It gives me great pleasure to see such complexes. I am very pleased that a plenty of work have been done for the last years for development of sports in Azerbaijan. Modern, beautiful, world-standard sport complexes have been opened both in Baku and regions of the country. And today, the Handball complex has opened its door.
Sport in Azerbaijan is on a high level and continues to rapidly develop. Our athletes succeed at various international tournaments, Olympic games. At the same time, it becomes a tradition for Azerbaijan to host international competitions. This is one more indication of very positive attitude of the international sporting community towards Azerbaijan. A will not make a mistake saying that we have won this attitude. Our successive, purposeful and hard works as well as our athletes’ victories have turned Azerbaijan into sport country.
But there is another factor, which pleases me as President of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee: this is involvement of the masses in sports. This will allow grow morally and physically healthy future generations.
Azerbaijan is now preparing for the Athens Olympic Games. I am confident that our successes at the last Sydney games will be repeated in Athens: our athletes will represent their Motherland in a worthy manner and return here as winners.
Dear Vitaliy Georgiyevich, I hear our Minister is interpreting for you. But I would like you to hear firsthand. I thank you very much for being with us today. You are good friend of Azerbaijan, and your every visit here pleases all of us - your friends.
I remember the tomes of your presidency of the Russian Federation’s Olympic Committee. We were working in active collaboration. Now you are one of the leaders of the International Olympic Committee. We highly appreciate your activities and contributions to development of Azerbaijani Olympus.
I am especially pleased that this highest award of the International Olympic Committee has been conferred upon me exactly by you.
On behalf of your friends present in this hall, I wish you every success in your activity, and express my gratefulness for your sincere attitude towards Azerbaijan. I am looking forward to our further meetings both in Baku or somewhere else.
Dear friends!
On the occasion of the opening this beautiful sports complex, I once again offer all of you my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for good health and happiness.
Thank you!
***
Attended the ceremony were Chairman of the Milli Majlis Murtuz Alasgarov, Chief of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev, deputies of the Parliament's Chairman and Prime Minister, Ministers, Heads of Committees and Companies, Deputies of the Milli Majlis, foreign Ambassadors and other officials.
Other news in this section
