The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev led the distinguished guests at the opening ceremony of the 16 World Boxing Championships at the Heidar Aliyev Sports Complex in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. 570 Boxers from 113 countries are participatiung in the event which is the first major qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympic Games and which will last until 8 October.
Azerbaijan`s Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov, The President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Ching-Kuo Wu and the President of Azerbaijan Boxing Federation, Kamaleddin Heydarov, spoke at the opening ceremony on the importance of the championships and wished successes to boxers.
Meanwhile, News.am reported that an Armenian Boxing team is in Baku to participate in the championships. They arrived on Friday together with the Russian team.
source: commonspace.eu
photo: Opening ceremony of the 16 Boxing World Championships in Baku on 25 September 2011 (picture courtesy of the Press Service of the President of Azerbaijan)
