Solemn Opening Ceremony of 3rd CIS Games Held in Ganja, Attended by President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva
Ganja, The Gulf Observer: The 3rd Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games officially opened on September 28 in Ganja with a grand ceremony attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.
Prior to the ceremony, the President and First Lady met with children who had lost family members or been injured during missile attacks on Ganja in the Patriotic War, underscoring the human resilience and unity that framed the event.
The ceremony commenced with the raising of Azerbaijan’s tricolor flag and the national anthem, followed by a parade of athletes representing participating nations. Azerbaijan’s flag was carried by karate champion Asiman Gurbanli and taekwondo athlete Zemfira Hasanzade.
In his opening address, Samir Sharifov, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 3rd CIS Games, welcomed guests, athletes, and sports fans, noting that the Games would be held across seven Azerbaijani cities — Ganja, Sheki, Gabala, Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Goygol, and Khankendi. He highlighted the participation of 2,400 athletes from CIS countries as well as guest nations including Türkiye, Pakistan, Oman, Cuba, and Kuwait.
“Ganja, the homeland of the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi, with its ancient culture and rich history, is now the sports capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States,” Sharifov said. He emphasized Azerbaijan’s growing reputation as a capable host of international sporting events, citing previous successes such as the First European Games (2015) and the Fourth Islamic Solidarity Games (2017).
On behalf of the CIS Executive Committee, Deputy Secretary General Nurlan Seitimov read a message from Secretary General Sergey Lebedev, who praised the Games as a “symbol of sports unity” that strengthens cooperation between nations and promotes discipline, determination, and healthy lifestyles among youth.
Following a swearing-in ceremony for athletes and coaches, President Aliyev officially declared the 3rd CIS Games open. The event concluded with an artistic performance and a fireworks display lighting up the Ganja skyline.
Designated as the “Sports Capital” of the Games, Ganja is hosting the competition at 12 venues, with athletes competing for 1,694 medals (505 gold, 505 silver, and 684 bronze) across 23 sports. Special prizes will also be awarded to athletes who make outstanding contributions to their teams’ success.
The 3rd CIS Games will run until October 8, marking the continuation of a sporting tradition that began with the inaugural Games in Kazan, Russia (2021), followed by the second edition in Minsk, Belarus (2023).
