Farid Gayibov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports and President of European Gymnastics, is placing greater emphasis on youth talent identification, athlete safeguarding and the digitalisation of the country’s sports system as Azerbaijan seeks to strengthen the structures behind its international sporting ambitions.
The latest measures were discussed at a meeting between Gayibov and representatives of the country’s national sports federations at the Azerbaijan Sports Academy on September 18. It was the 28th meeting held with federation officials.
The meeting covered athlete safeguarding, digitalisation, relations with international federations, a centralised sports registry and the development of children’s and youth sports schools. New methods of identifying young athletes were also discussed.
AzerFit Programmes
One of the programmes at the centre of the initiative is AzerFit, which assesses the physical abilities of children aged nine to 15. During its pilot phase, 488 children completed 10 tests measuring strength, endurance, flexibility, agility and coordination.
Gayibov has called for the programme to be expanded, with the aim of creating a stronger link between early physical assessment, talent identification, sports schools and national federations.
The initiative comes as Azerbaijan continues to develop its role in international sport. As President of European Gymnastics, Gayibov works with 50 national federations, giving him responsibilities at both national and continental levels.
European Gymnastics is implementing its Strategy 2030 and developing new competition concepts, while discussions continue over the future of disciplines including parkour. The organisation has also had to address the complex issue of Russian and Belarusian participation following changes at world gymnastics level.
An Extraordinary General Assembly was convened to allow European Gymnastics’ member federations to determine the organisation’s position on the issue, highlighting the challenges facing continental sports bodies when international, national and political considerations intersect.
Baku hosts Rhythmic Gymnastics
Azerbaijan will also have a prominent place on the international gymnastics calendar in 2027. Baku is scheduled to host the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships from September 15 to 19, with the competition forming part of the qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The Azerbaijani capital will host another major gymnastics event later that year when representatives of European Gymnastics’ 50 member federations gather for the organisation’s Congress in December.
Gayibov’s international responsibilities also include the Coordination Commission for the Istanbul 2027 European Games. Gymnastics will feature in several disciplines at the multi-sport event.
For Azerbaijan, the combination of domestic sports reforms and international event hosting represents a broader effort to develop the system supporting athletes and federations. The focus is increasingly extending from competition results to talent identification, safeguarding, administration and cooperation with international governing bodies.
The effectiveness of programmes such as AzerFit and the wider reforms will depend on their implementation over the coming years. With major gymnastics events and international meetings scheduled in Baku in 2027, the country’s domestic sports structures will also come under greater international attention.
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