02. Februar 2008  
Balakyan / Azerbaijan  
Artistic Gymnastics

Gymnastics in Azerbaijan is developing further.

The opening of a gymnasium in Sumgayit, in Ganja and Devechi was followed by the opening of another Gym, in Balakan, a region of Azerbaijan.
 The head of the new section, Mr. Safar Ganjiyev said to the Azerbaijanian press agency "trend news" , that the young sports people of Balakan are preparing for their first performance in the championship of Azerbaijan in March. The regional branch of the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan also contributed to the new kind of sport in Balakan....
Training is held in the gymnasium three times weekly and is attended by 10 to 15 boys and girls. "I am sure that promising gymnasts will soon appear in Balakan who will, in the future, be included in the national team,” Safar Ganjiyev said. 

Partnership with Oil Comapny
"We are very glad to contribute to it,"  the head of the branch, Rasim Pachalov said. “All the equipment was obtained with the assistance of the State Oil company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the executive power of Balakan helped to repair the gymnasium".
The executive power of the Balkan region fully supports the initiative. The fundamental approach is required to develop the gymnastics in Balakan, Nazakat Rustamova, deputy head of the Balakan executive power said: “All parents interested in the training bring their children to the gymnasium and they are keen to take part in the training,”

Mehriban ALIYEVA, the first Lady of Azerbaijan...

The press service of the Gymnastics Federation of Azerbaijan said that special importance will be attached to the development of the gymnastics in all regions of Azerbaijan.
Hopefully, the gymnasium sections will be opened in all cities of the republic and both training and gymnastics competitions will be held periodically in those that already exist, especially amongst the youth.
<< The Gymnastics Federation of Azerbaijan, headed by Mehriban Aliyeva, will contribute to it and all these measures will serve for the further development of gymnastics.
*source: trend news, AZE