The opening ceremony of the "President's Cup-2026" international tournament in academic rowing, kayaking and canoeing has been held. Sport24.az reports that a number of officials and representatives of the sports community participated in the event held in Mingachevir.
Speaking at the event, the head of the Mingachevir City Executive Power, Ilham Ismayilov, emphasized the importance of the competition and wished the participants success:
"I greet each of you. Today we have gathered for the opening of a great sports competition. I thank all the athletes participating in the competition and wish them success. Today we are witnessing a great sports event. Yesterday, the competitions started at the Sarsang reservoir and we witnessed great performances through the media. I am sure that the excitement of the competition will continue in the same way tomorrow".
Then Azad Gozalov, the head of the Central Aran Regional Youth and Sports Department, noted the importance of the tournament and the importance of sports for society:
"The importance of the competition is great, sports is health. We believe that we will witness interesting fights. We believe that the athletes growing up in Azerbaijan today will raise our country's flag high in the future. May the strong win".
Farhad Aliyev, the executive vice-president of the Azerbaijan Water Sports Federation, emphasized in his speech that such tournaments play an important role in discovering new talents.
Later, a video dedicated to National Leader Heydar Aliyev and academician Zarifa Aliyeva was shown.
Then the event continued with an artistic program.
It should be noted that more than 100 athletes from Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan are participating in the opening ceremony.
It should be reminded that the tournament started yesterday at the Sarsang reservoir in Agdara. The regatta will end on May 1.