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Interview with Azerbaijan’s Sports and Youth Affairs Minister
Azad Ragimov, Azerbaijan’s Sports and Youth Affairs Minister
I would like to stress that today we are better prepared
than we were back when we were applying for the 2016 Olympics.
Of course, we have corrected all the previous mistakes,
especially those touching upon the placement of sporting clusters.
Today, the line formed from the airport to the Primorskiy Boulevard,
where all Olympic facilities are to be constructed,
answers all the requirements of the Olympic Committee.
It will be convenient for both sportsmen and the spectators.
And it is our main advantage.
And of course, we have a rapidly growing economy.
The major progress Baku has made after our previous application is obvious.
No matter the success of our application,
we’ve decided to build an Olympic stadium for 80,000 spectators,
an Aquatic center for 15,000 viewers, a center for gymnastics,
a center for judo, boxing and wrestling.
33 Olympic centers have been opened in the regions of or country.
And this is a solid foundation for Olympic and sporting progress in Azerbaijan in general.
We hope we will be able to introduce our region to Olympic values and make our youth interested in sports.
Every state allocates major sums of money to sports development,
supports sportsmen. This year there will be Olympic Games in London.
What is your prognosis for the possible distribution of medals?
It is a very tricky thing, to make such prognoses.
But I’ll give you some statistical data:
Azerbaijan won 1 medal in Atlanta, 3 in Sydney, 5 in Athens, 7 in Beijing.
So you see we ought to get at least 9, or maybe even 14 medals this time.