Baku:President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of the World Judo Championships at the National Gymnastics Arena.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the President first met with Azerbaijani judoka Ahmad Yusifov, who won a gold medal at the event. President Aliyev congratulated Yusifov on his victory, acknowledging the challenging competition and expressing pride in the athlete’s achievement. He encouraged Yusifov to continue representing Azerbaijan at the highest level in future competitions.
The ceremony commenced with a video highlighting the development of sports in Azerbaijan. Rashad Nabiyev, President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, welcomed the international judo community to Baku, emphasizing the nation’s dedication to sports development. Ladislau-Marius Vizer, President of the International Judo Federation, also expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan’s support of sports and the event.
The ceremony featured an artistic program, performances of national anthems, and concluded with a concert by Italian singer Al Bano. The World Judo Championships, featuring 622 judokas from 93 countries, will run until October 11.