European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov was in Baku on Friday and Saturday (24-25) to assist in the centenary celebrations of the Azerbaijan Athletics Federation (AAF).
President Karamarinov’s first day in the Azerbaijani capital saw him accompany the AAF President Javid Gurbanov and AAF CEO Meherrem Sultanzade for meetings at the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee followed by attending the national 100km championships.
The following day a delegation – which included President Karamarinov, Azerbaijan government ministers Farid Gayibov, Mariana Vasileva and Firudin Gurbanov, National Olympic Committee Vice President Chingiz Huseynzade, AAF President Gurbanov, Balkan Federation Athletics President and European Athletics Council Member Slobodan Brankovic and Turkish Athletics Federation President Fatih Cintimar – participated in the opening ceremony of the newly inaugurated athletics training facility in the Amirjan suburb of Baku.
The stadium can cater for all the throws and horizonal jumps as well as having a six-lane track for the sprints and there is an indoor facility for the vertical jumps.
In the evening, the Centenary Gala saw President Karamarinov present the European Athletics Coaching Award, Member Federations Award and Women’s Leadership Award presented to Famil Huseynov, Rahim Khalilov and Tamilla Bunyadova respectively.
“It is with great pleasure that I extend my warm congratulations to the Azerbaijan Athletics Federation as it celebrates its centenary,” commented President Karamarinov.
“This significant milestone marks a century of dedicated effort and notable achievements in promoting and fostering athletics in Azerbaijan."
Since its reorganisation in 1993, the AAF has played a pivotal role as an independent governing body, overseeing the management of athletics in Azerbaijan, the most easterly Member Federation of European Athletics.
"The country has rightfully earned its place as a prominent member of the European Athletics family and demonstrated its stature and standing in the world of athletics, especially during the last decade,” he added.
Baku hosted the European Athletics Convention and Golden Tracks in 2014.
The inaugural edition of the European Games in 2015 – which also included the European Athletics Team Championships 3rd League – also provided a very visible global showcase for Baku and Azerbaijan.
The country's athletes have made a significant impact on the continental stage in recent years and include the likes of Nazim Babayev, who earned European Athletics U20 and U23 titles before winning triple jump gold at the Glasgow 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships, and distance runner Hayle İbrahimov, a four-time continental championships medallist indoors and outdoors.