Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation has become the “Federation of the year-2009”. This was announced at the event, organized by the country’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, where the names of the heroes of the sports year were pronounced.

A memorial plaque was presented to the Secretary General of Gymnastics Federation, Farid Gayibov, who, in his turn, expressed his gratitude to the principal sports office for the choice made and congratulated all the participants on the World Azerbaijanis’ Solidarity Day and wished a Happy New Year.

A representative of gymnastics was also included into the list of the year’s best ten sportsmen announced by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Azad Rahimov. The gymnast included is Aliya Garayeva who has become the World’s vice-champion in rhythmic gymnastics with a ball, the European vice-champion in a team competition and the bronze medalist in a team competition of the World Championships this year.

The sports veterans were given attention as well. One of them – is Minata Asgarova, a well-known artistic gymnast in the past. The veteran, celebrating her eightieth birthday in a day or two, received warm and sincere wishes from the country’s whole sports society.

The National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan (NOC) also summed up the results of the sports year. Thus, along with other specialists, Irada Gurbanova, the coach of the women’s pair of acrobats – Ayla Ahmadova and Dilara Sultanova – who has become the European Champions this year, was presented an order for a new apartment by President of Azerbaijan and head of the NOC Ilham Aliyev. The NOC also presented pecuniary recompenses to a group of sportsmen and coaches distinguished this year, including Aliya Garayeva, Anna Gurbanova and a junior group team, and, accordingly, their coaches Dinara Gimatova, Nadezda Kholodkova and the national team’s head coach Mariana Vasileva.