Interview by Ramin Naziev, Baku, exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
In Azerbaijan the year 2012 was declared the Year of Sport. There were international sporting events, new training facilities, the Olympic team of Azerbaijan brought 10 Olympic medals from London. Twenty years ago the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Azerbaijan was created. Vice-president of the NOC and world champion in freestyle wrestling Khazar Isayev told VK about the history of its creation, the challenges of the Olympic movement and about himself.
- In Azerbaijan an athlete is a very honorable profession. Our Olympic champions, world champions and Europe are our heroes, and love and respect for them in society are enormous. The activities of the regional Olympic complexes are successful, as this is the main source of human resources. In our region there are very talented young people, and we have all the conditions for a healthy lifestyle. Even the veterans or people who have health problems can go in for sports. All Olympic facilities have simulators, advanced equipment, swimming pools; these complexes in all respects comply with international standards. Recently, Mr. President has ordered that the Olympic athletes should train for free. But if we want that the Olympic movement in the region becomes widespread, the executive committees must deal directly with this, there must be propaganda in schools, and sports should be a way of life in the country.
- This year, you were in the delegation of the Olympic team in the XXX Summer Olympic Games. What impressions did you have from the London Olympics?
- For the first 10 days we hated the Olympics. From the first days of our athletes were offended, there was injustice on the part of the referees and psychological pressure. In the first 10 days, we had practically no medals. On the third day, our weightlifter Valentin Hristov earned a bronze medal, and the failures followed. People were outraged and considered the Olympics disastrous for the country. I gave an interview from London and said that we have 53 licenses but those licenses do not have to win medals. But we have the team of 20 experienced athletes, and we will try to improve results. At the Olympics there was the loss by the athletes to whom we, in principle, did relate our hopes. For these athletes the fact of participation is essential. In principle, we expect medals from each Olympian - this may be a new athlete, and he can win an Olympic medal at the first serious competition. There were high hopes for 2008 Olympic champion Elnur Mammadov, but, unfortunately, he lost the first battle. This loss had a greater psychological pressure. But in the end of the Olympics our freestyle wrestlers, boxers removed from our shoulders all this load. Our wrestlers have won two gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Thank God that all is well finished. Before the Olympics, we set a goal of nine medals, and in the end, our team won one more medal.
- Can you consider this a successful Olympics for Azerbaijan?
- The number of medals and the performances of our athletes at the Olympic Games in London are highly commendable. But at least five medals would still be won. Our athletes were close to it. Some medals should be higher. This is the fourth contest, in which I take part in the Olympic delegation. But this psychological stress was outstanding. Prior to the Olympics there was anti-propaganda of our boxers. Even the BBC television channel said that our Boxing Federation has already bought two gold medals. This negatively influenced the general spirit of the Olympic team. The competition was very difficult, but at the same time very successful. Azerbaijan was ranked 30th in the table of the countries, 24th by the number of medals, 15th among European countries and third among the Muslim countries. This is a historic achievement. This is clear evidence of progress in Azerbaijan in the field of sport and the Olympic Movement.
- Is it possible to improve the team score at the Summer Olympics in 2016 in Brazil?
- I think the team for the next Olympics will change. Young athletes in London have been able to win medals, and we have a good base. 16 young athletes were able to distinguish themselves and gave a good result. This gives us the incentive that these athletes will get a wide experience for four years and will adequately represent us at the following Olympics. But there is also a new generation of good athletes. Before the next Olympic Games, we must succeed in non-traditional sports for us. The outcome of each Olympic Games and experienced frustration at times are a kind of road map for our future activities. Successes and failures should teach us how to increase success in our traditional sports, what steps we should take to prepare professionals in the new fields for us.
I wish that all the federations follow the example of our Wrestling Federation, which each year presents to the world new names that are achieving remarkable results. We meet with our wrestlers all the time, get to know their problems, give them advice. They listen to the older generation of athletes. So today, in the wrestling world, we have no problem.
