Press Release courtesy of LEN
LEN President Paolo Barelli visited Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to meet Sport Minister Azad Rahimov and Khanlar Fatiyev, the President of the Azerbaijan Swimming Federation.
LEN President Paolo Barelli paid a visit to Azerbaijan, the country with one Europe’s fastest growing economies. He met Sport Minister Azad Rahimov and Khanlar Fatiyev, the President of the Azerbaijan Swimming Federation and representatives of other local authorities to discuss a future cooperation on the development programmes of the aquatic disciplines in Azerbaijan.
The hosts and Mr. Barelli also analysed the possibilities of staging major LEN Events in Baku in the future. In the capital, world-class facilities would welcome the continent’s best athletes, including the outstanding Aquatics Palace constructed for the 2015 European Games.
During his visit, Paolo Barelli also met the executive board members of the Azerbaijan Swimming Federation and the representatives of the National Academy of Sport.
“I am really happy to see such commitment from the local Government and the Azerbaijan Swimming Federation to develop aquatics in their country” the LEN President said. “They have dedicated people who can work in magnificent facilities and enjoy tremendous support from the authorities, setting an example for everyone. When you see this kind of approach in a country which can now be regarded a developing nation in aquatics, you will realise why Europe is the strongest continent among all in this sport. I believe that Azerbaijan will play an important role in European Aquatics in the coming years.”