Interview to “Lider” TV

Mehriban Aliyeva: Indeed, today is eminent day. Of course, I am happy because I think that successes in the field of sport relate not only to the sport. This is success of social, cultural and public life of our country. This is wonderful symbol of today. Of course, I think that holding such tournament, i.e. World Cup in Azerbaijan, Baku is a great victory of Azeri Gymnastics Federation. You are aware that this April management of International Gymnastics Federation arrived in Azerbaijan by my invitation and we offered to hold cup competitions in Baku. Decision was taken. Now I would like to say that not only this year but also next year World Cup competitions will be held in Baku and you are aware that 2005 world eurhythmies championship will also be held in Azerbaijan. Of course, this makes me very happy.

Question: Today attention to sport in Azerbaijan is at governmental level and the measures conducted in this field are carried out with governmental support. What works will be carried out by Azeri Gymnastics Federation that you manage? What works are planned in the direction of popularization of gymnastics, acrobatics?

Answer: You noted correctly that attention and care for development of sport in Azerbaijan is a part of state policy. Today's tournament shows how important it is. I would like to say that management of International Gymnastics Federation, Mrs. Abruzzini are in Baku for more than a week and help us. According to them, such a tournament has never been held in other countries at such a high level. Even in such a country as France this tournament was held at lower level. This is also very important because the guests saw it themselves and noted it. Everybody noted about high level of organization of the competitions, high level of organizational and technical works. I would like to say that Azerbaijan is put among number of high developed countries of the world, sometimes even higher. That is why I am glad that we can carry out this work at such level. We had been preparing to that since April. First of all, we should thank all employees of the National Olympic Committee, Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism, our federation for intensively carried out work. Everybody wanted this measure to conduct at such a high level because eurhythmics is very beautiful and esthetic kind of sport and we couldn't organize competitions at different level. Everything should have been nice. I think that we managed to achieve this. In future, one of the key tasks will be getting license for participation in Olympic games. Today you saw how Dinara Gimatova performed at high level. She has very big chances to get license. This is our key goal. However, besides, there are three other kinds of gymnastics in our Federation: acrobatics, trampling and sportive gymnastics. Of course, unfortunately, two of them isn't Olympic kind of sport. Acrobatics is very strong here but isn't included into Olympic program. Of course, eurhythmic gymnastics is the most important element of our program but we also develop other kinds of sport, render assistance. Construction of the modern sportive complex in future is in our plans. We will have all conditions for the schools, sportive halls and holding such tournaments.

Question: I have taken participation in many competitions. One of the key attributes of these competitions are the flowers. Alive flowers have been used in the competitions held in Baku for the first time. If it is not a secret, whose idea is this?

Answer: Frankly speaking, this is my idea. Of course, I had wonderful and numerous assistants as well as thank them. However, as I have already said, eurhythmic gymnastics is nice kind of sport and it is required that the hall meet this beauty. It seems that we managed to do it. All our guests noted that they have seen nicely decorated hall for the first time. They even said that such a hall will meet all requirements for the Olympic games.

Reporter: Competitions for the World Cup were broadcasted through “Lider” TV channel to all countries of the world. During our reportage we had a phone call from Germany and asked to thank you.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Mrs. Abruzzini noted that the picture of this hall, creative works would be shown in the magazines of International Gymnastics Federation and competitions held in Azerbaijan would become a sample for such measures. If you remember, International Olympic Committee represented Azeri National Olympic Committee as a sample for other countries. This is a result of the policy of the last years carried out in our country and Ilham Aliyev's role in this is huge. You are aware that he gave great stimuli to the people to go in for sport. At present international volleyball, free-style fighting, handball and other kinds of sport competitions are held at high level. This is Ilham Aliyev's victory first of all.