Azerbaijan Honors 2024 Sporting Achievements at Gala Ceremony
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports hosted a grand gala ceremony to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Azerbaijani sports in 2024. The event, held in Baku, brought together key figures from the sports community, including the heads of sports organizations, federations, athletes, coaches, media outlets, and other stakeholders.
The ceremony was attended by notable personalities, including Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and Arzu Aliyeva, Head of the Baku Media Center.
The event commenced with the performance of the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, setting the tone for a night of celebration and recognition.
A Year of Success for Azerbaijani Sports
Farid Gayibov, Minister of Youth and Sports, described 2024 as a landmark year for Azerbaijani sports. He congratulated athletes, coaches, and sports federations on their exceptional performances and noted the motivational impact of President Ilham Aliyev’s recognition of prominent sports figures during the year. Gayibov expressed optimism that 2025 would bring even greater achievements for Azerbaijani sports.
A video summarizing the sporting highlights of 2024 was showcased, followed by an extensive awarding ceremony celebrating excellence across various categories.
Recognizing Excellence Across Categories
The awards were distributed in numerous categories, determined through surveys conducted among federations, sports journalists, and social media users. Some of the notable categories and winners included:
- Best Media Outlet of the Year: CBC Sport (1st), AZERTAC (2nd), and Idman.biz (3rd).
- Best Male Athlete of the Year
- Best Female Athlete of the Year
- Best Sports Federation of the Year
- Best Sports Event of the Year
- Fair Play Award
Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of Azerbaijan’s Automobile Federation, presented the award to AZERTAC for its contribution to sports coverage.
A Celebration of Sportsmanship and Achievement
The ceremony also honored achievements in specific areas, such as junior sports schools, Olympic complexes, medical staff, and international activities. Both male and female athletes in Olympic, non-Olympic, and Paralympic sports received accolades for their performances, alongside coaches and sports facilities that demonstrated excellence.
This gala event highlighted Azerbaijan’s growing prominence in the global sports arena and underscored the nation’s commitment to fostering talent and supporting sports development at all levels. With 2025 on the horizon, Azerbaijan’s sports community looks forward to building on the successes of 2024.
