Azerbaijani sports are developing and gaining fame every year. And this became possible thanks to the effective work of our national leader Heydar Aliyev, who made a great contribution to the development of our sport. Since coming to power in 1969, he has done a lot of work to strengthen the material and technical base of sports.

Among the works done by Heydar Aliyev in the field of sports, the construction of sports facilities has a special place. Sports Concert Complex (now this complex is named after Heydar Aliyev), Palace of Hand Games, Republican Velotrack, building of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports, training base for Olympic Teams, Surakhani Olympic Complex, "Youth" stadium in Buzovna settlement, Republican Olympic Center, Sports Palace of Azerbaijan Technical University, Kur rowing base in Mingachevir, "Ganjlik" international tourism center and its sports complex, Lankaran, Ganja and Yevlakh Children and Youth Sports Schools, Gakh Sports Complex, Yasamal Health Center, Motodrom and others.

After gaining independence during his leadership Heydar Aliyev (1993-2003), took great care of our sport.  On July 26, 1994, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established. On March 5, 1995, he awarded our well-known athletes and coaches with the "Sharaf" order and the "Tereggi" medal.  On the same day, the Sports Foundation was established.

In 1992, the National Olympic Committee was established. The most important event of that time was Azerbaijan's participation in the Olympic Games in 1996 for the first time as an independent state. For that purpose, in February 1995, President H. Aliyev signed a decree "On preparations for the XXVI Summer Olympic Games to be held in Atlanta, United States of America in 1996".

During 1993-2001, 5 European championships, 4 world championships, 3 world cups, 32 international competitions were held in Baku. During the years of independence, by the decrees of President Heydar Aliyev, Sports Complexes for shooting, Taekwondo Sports Center, Yacht Club, etc. were built in Mashtaga, Sheki, Nakhchivan, Guba, Ganja, Barda, Lankaran.

In 1997, at the report-election conference of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, which has a special place in the sports history of our country, Ilham Aliyev was elected the new head of the NOC. The election of Mr. Ilham Aliyev as the president of the National Olympic Committee entered a new stage in the state policy implemented in the field of sports.

Ilham Aliyev paid attention to the development of sports even after being elected the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On March 4, 2005, the Day of Physical Culture and Sports was established by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The sports festival is celebrated every year on March 5th.The successes achieved at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics, the European champion of our national chess team in Serbia in 2009, the successful performances of our young judokas at the European Championship, the world and continental championships of our wrestlers, and the world championship of our boxers among youth, motivated our athletes for further victory.

By the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated January 16, 2012, 2012 was declared the "Year of Sports" in the country. President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree "On preparation for the XXX Summer Olympic Games" in order to organize and ensure the preparation of Azerbaijani athletes for the XXX Summer Olympic Games London-2012 at a high level. In these competitions, the Azerbaijani Olympic team returned home with 2 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze medals.

The decision of the European Olympic Committee General Assembly on December 8, 2012,  to hold the 1st European Games in Baku in 2015 was a great historical event.

10,000 athletes from 50 European countries competed in the first European Games. According to the results  of the 17-day competition, our athletes won 21 gold, 15 silver and 20 bronze medals, and won 56 medals in total, taking the 2nd place among 50 countries.

“Formula 1” Grand Prix has been held anually since 1950. Prior to Azerbaijan, Formula 1 races were held in 20 countries since 2016, Azerbaijan has become the 21st country to host this race. The 42nd Chess Olympiad organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) was held in Baku in 2016.

At the 8th General Assembly of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), a decision was made to hold the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games "Baku-2017" in Azerbaijan.

In 2019, at international competitions, our athletes won 775 medals, of which 271 were gold.

In 2022, the project of the "Imarat" stadium of Aghdam was developed, and the construction of the Karabakh Equestrian Complex was started in the Eyvazkhanbeyli village of Aghdam. At the same time, several sports competitions were held in the liberated territories: international sports competitions in Shusha, international rowing competitions in Lake Sugovushan, and triathlon competitions in Zangilan.

Azerbaijan has successfully hosted continental competitions in a number of sports, world cups in gymnastics, the European Championship and the finals of the UEFA European League. The brilliant victories won by our athletes at international tournaments are inscribed in golden letters in the sporting history of our country.

Recommended literature:

1. Əliyev, Akif Əbdül oğlu. Bədən tərbiyəsi və idman hərəkatının idarə edilməsi : dərslik / A. Ə. Əliyev, A. Y. Əsgərov, A. K. Qurbanov ; elmi red. X. K. Qurbanov ; Azərbaycan Respublikası Gənclər, İdman və Turizm Nazirliyi, Azərbaycan Beynəlxalq Universiteti. - Bakı : ABU, 2006. - 220 s.
2. Quliyev, Baloğlan Sarı oğlu. Fiziki tərbiyənin nəzəri-metodik və praktik işlərinin əsasları : dərs vəsaiti / B. S. Quliyev ; elmi red. M. Ə. Nəsrullayev ; Azərbaycan Dövlət Pedaqoji Universiteti. - Bakı : ADPU nəşriyyatı, 2010. - 658 s.
3. Azərbaycan gəncliyi, Azərbaycanın gələcəyi / red. Ə. M. Qarayev. - Bakı : Azərbaycan nəşriyyatı, 2003. - 143 s.