Minister Azad Rahimov held a reporting news conference .
Minister Azad Rahimov held a reporting news conference at the administrative building of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, winning five gold and three silver awards gained a wonderful success in Singapore.
Azerbaijan took the eleventh place among teams. We have become third among the post-Soviet countries, first among Islamic states, sixth in Europe. President Ilham Aliyev highly praised this success, accepting our sportsmen. He thanked them on behalf of people for their victories. On the whole, in 2010 Azerbaijani sportsmen gained already 300 awards. We host many international contests. We will have the world championship in bodybuilding, contest in karate Baku Open, World Cup in judo. We have already build 27 Olympic sport complexes, nine are under construction. In addition, the Kur Olympic rowing base will open in September.
Azad Rahimov also touched upon the opening of legal bookmaker offices in Azerbaijan.
“This issue is closer to its solution. It is necessary to settle some issues. The relevant ministries are engaged in this. Will the creation of legal bookmaker offices influence the black market in this business? Frankly speaking, personally, I did not know that Azerbaijan has illegal bookmaker offices and that they are so popular. Naturally, this is illegal. These organizations do not pay taxes. They must be closed regardless of whether legal offices open. I would also like to note that no stakes on matches of the Azerbaijani premier league will be admitted in legal offices.
The minister also answered the question regarding Vugar Hahsimov and his victories in the club championship of Spain within the International School of Kasparov-Marcote.
“Vugar’s recent steps are not rejoicing. I am negative on his playing for Garry Kasparov’s team. He also misbehaved at the recent team championship of the world. He tried to create groupings, had conflicts with head trained Zurab Azmayparashvili. Federation president Elman Rustamov has repeatedly invited him to the Federation to explain his misconduct but Vugar refuses to come. We expect explanations from him”.
He was also asked about the football affairs.
“The dismissal of Azerbaijan’s female team did not astonish me. They’d better not take part than to play like this. This does not mean that women’s football is completely eliminated in Azerbaijan. Our country will host the U-17 world championship in 2012. AFFA is now preparing them team for this contest.
As for our senior men’s team, it will start in the qualifier of Euro-2012 tomorrow. The group is very difficult and no one will dare to say that we will come out of it. I have repeatedly said that we expect success in football in 4-5 years. Younger generation will grow up in this period”.
Elmir Aliyev
News.Az