This date is celebrated based on the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev «On Approval of the Day of Physical Education and Sports» of March 4, 2005.
It is no coincidence that the Day of Physical Education and Sports is celebrated on March 5. On March 5, 1995, the National Leader Heydar Aliyev met with the champions and prize winners of the World and European Championships at the Sports Palace in Baku, established the Sports Foundation, laid down the foundation of a new strategy for the development of physical culture and sports.
Once in 1997, the President Ilham Aliyev was elected as the leader of the National Olympic Committee, attention to physical education and sports in our country has been increased. Today it is proud to be noted that Azerbaijan has become one of the sports center of the world. Love of the head of state for sport, his attention to the athletes, the decision to create the new Olympic complexes and sports facilities, have led to the mobilization of the masses in this direction. As of today, the modern Olympic complexes operate not only in Baku, but also in almost all regions of our homeland. Olympic complexes, commissioned alternately, played a significant role in the development of sport in the regions. Currently, in some areas of the country, continues the building of similar structures.
If at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, team of Azerbaijan managed to win only one medal, and at the Games in Sydney - 3 medals, the number of our athletes won medals at the Olympic Games in Athens reached 5. It is necessary to emphasize the victories of Azerbaijani athletes at the Summer Olympic Games, which were held in August 2008 in Beijing. At the Beijing Olympics Azerbaijan won 7 medals and finished 38th athletes have won a record number of medals - 2 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze medals.
In 2015, Azerbaijan is going to host the first-ever European Games. The program of the first European Games, which will be held from 12 to 28 June in Azerbaijan, include 20 disciplines.
During seventeen days more than six thousand athletes will compete for medals. Opportunities for qualifying Summer Olympics to be held in 2016 in Rio-de-Janeiro in 12 sport disciplines will be created.
The National Karate Federation of Azerbaijan congratulates the sporting community of the country and wishes constant evolution to the Azerbaijani sport.