October 3, 2005

Opening ceremony of the 27th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship

Solemn opening ceremony was held on October 3 at Heydar Aliyev Sport-Concert Complex for the 27th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva and President of the Republic of Latvia Mrs Vaira Vike-Freyberga, paying an official visit to our country, attended the ceremony.


President of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Mehriban Aliyeva opened the ceremony.


Speech by Mehriban Aliyeva:


Dear President of the Republic of Azerbaijan!


Dear President of the Republic of Latvia!


Dear ladies and gentlemen!


Dear guests!


Welcome to the opening ceremony of the 27th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship! I welcome in Azerbaijan the reps of 47 countries of the world having come to our capital. I say these words with big honor and happiness and I am sure every citizen of Azerbaijan feels the same.


We have very rich history of sport. Our athletes have raised higher flag of Azerbaijan in several international competitions, achieved sounding of our hymn. We are pride of this.


New page is being opened today in sport history of Azerbaijan - the world championship on Olympic discipline is for the first time held in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. This honor might belong to other disciplines as well. Fantastic development of sport in our country over the last years is ground to say this and I believe that it will be so in future. But such a world-scale event happens just in rhythmic gymnastics for the first time.


Rhythmic gymnastics is not sport discipline only. Rhythmic gymnastics is symbol of beauty, tenderness, high art. We were dreaming of realization of this championship and our dream came true.


Every new sport hall, every new stadium, Olympic sport complex built in our country over the last 10 years brought us closer to this honorable day. Today I say with very big pride that realization of such a championship in our country is high value set to the sport of Azerbaijan.


Realization of 27th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship in our country is a fruit of work of a number of people. First of all, it is the result of the decision made by the leadership of International Gymnastics Federation. It is result of the successful activity of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation. It is work of the members of the Organization Committee of Championship. I express my gratitude to all these people.


I express my special thanks to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr Ilham Aliyev. Works done by him as President of the country and President of National Olympic Committee are visible. All we are grateful to him. As head of Gymnastics Federation and spouse of the President of the country I want to emphasize that without his care, help, attention, realization of such a championship would remain as dream only. Thank You very much, Mr President!


Sport is symbol of health, beauty, national pride and solidarity. Once again I cordially congratulate you on this great holiday, greet the guests having come to Azerbaijan, and wish the joy of victory to the athletes. Thanks.