A groundbreaking ceremony for a Gymnastics Complex was held in Baku on August 26.

President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse, the President of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, took part in the ceremony.

The participants of the ceremony – representatives of the sports community and the constructors warmly welcomed President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, the president of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation. The flowers were presented to Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva.

President Ilham Aliyev became acquainted with the project of the Gymnastics Complex. It was mentioned that the vast sports complex to be constructed, improvement and planting works to be carried out on the area of 3,5 hectares allotted. Training and sports halls, offices, cloakrooms, a cafe, a restaurant, a workshop, storehouses will function at the three-storied complex occupying 15 thousand square meters of total area. The complex will be equipped with telecommunication and management systems. Moreover, there will also be a boiler-room, a pump-house and other ancillary facilities and buildings, underground (for 500 cars) and surface (for 100 cars) parking places. 6 thousand viewers can watch the sports events held at the complex.

All the conditions for gymnasts’ trainings, organization of competitions of both republican and international levels will be created at the complex.

It is planned to put the sports building into operation in 2011.

Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva placed a time capsule into the foundation and filled it with liquid concrete, marking the formal start of the construction. The head of state filled it with liquid concrete as well.

Then, President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva met with a group of gymnasts. The gymnasts expressed their gratitude to the head of delegation and first lady for the conditions created for them and for construction of such a splendid complex. President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva had their photos taken with the gymnasts.

Thanks to the activity of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, significant successes have been achieved in this sports discipline in the country as well. Azerbaijan hosted the European and World Championships in rhythmic gymnastics. Azerbaijani gymnasts with dignity represented the country also at the Olympic Games. At present, influential international gymnastics organizations show their interests in Azerbaijan thanks to the attention and concern of the President of Federation, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva.

The President Ilham Aliyev, once again, congratulated the participants of the ceremony, gave advices in connection with the construction of the complex and wished the constructors successes in their work.