On July 24th a solemn opening ceremony of the 1st WTF World Cadet Taekwondo Championships was held in Baku.
President of the Azerbaijan Taekwondo Federation, Vice President of the World Taekwondo Federation Kamaladdin Heydarov made a speech at the event and spoke of the government`s attention to sports in Azerbaijan.
He said Azerbaijan was known in the world as a sports country, and noted that Azerbaijani sportsmen successfully participated in the international arena due to the sports policy which was established by national leader Heydar Aliyev and continued by President Ilham Aliyev.
Heydarov thanked all teams and sportsmen for participation in the tournament and wished them success.
President of the World Taekwondo Federation Chungwon Choue congratulated the world taekwondo family on the occasion of the opening of the great tournament, and hailed the government`s attention to sports in Azerbaijan.
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Ismayil Ismayilov also made a speech at the opening ceremony.
He said there were great potential in Azerbaijan for expanding the Olympic movement, and spoke of the national leader’s services in the development of sports in the country.
The Deputy Minister noted due to President Ilham Aliyev’s attention and care to sports, this sphere had developed.
Then Kamaladdin Heydarov and Vice-President of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee Chingiz Huseynzade were presented awards of the World Taekwondo Federation.
Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov was also honored with the 5th Dan Black Belt.
The four-day championship brings together nearly 600 fighters from 65 countries.
Azerbaijan`s squad includes 18 fighters.