Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

A campaign has been launched in the country with an aim to promote Azerbaijani paralympians, who will represent the nation at the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Shaig Hamidov, Vice-President of Azerbaijani National Paralympic Committee (NPC) met with Azerbaijani paralympians on May 26 to inform about the campaign.

The key goal of the campaign is to inform Azerbaijani public about its para-athletes and their achievements in the international events. The project will provide information about the paralympians and kinds of sport they are engaged in.

The promotion campaign is implemented with the financial assistance of the Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of Azerbaijan, NPC told Trend.

The current list of Azerbaijani para-athletes, who will participate in Rio 2016, was presented at the meeting:

Judo - Ilham Zakiyev (100 kg), Kanan Abdullahanli (100), Rovshan Safarov (81), Ramil Gasimov (73), Bayram Mustafayev (66), Ramin Ibrahimov (60), Sabina Abdullayeva (57);

Powerlifting - Elshan Huseynov (107). Rasm Hazard (65+);

Swimming - Dmitry Salei, Roman Salei;

Athletics - Kamil Aliyev, Elchin Muradov, Rufat Rafiyev, Irada Alieva, Elena Chebanu, Elmir Jabrayilov;

Shooting - Yelena Taranova.

Hamidov said that six more athletes can be included into the list as the license-gaining stage will end by end of June.

The National Paralympic Committee, representing the country in the international paralympic movement, was established in 1996. The same year, two Azerbaijani paralympans joined the X Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, the U.S.

Since then, Azerbaijani sportsmen could gain 27 medals in total, which include 8 gold, 10 silver and 9 bronze medals.

The 2016 Summer Olympics is due to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 5-21. More than 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees will take part in RIO 2016.

The world's biggest sporting event will feature 42 sports and Azerbaijan has secured qualifications in wrestling, gymnastics, rowing, boxing, taekwondo, athletics, weightlifter and in Paralympics sports.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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