On September 24, the official opening ceremony of the “International Skating Union (ISU) Junior Grand Prix in Figure Skating” took place at the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Concert Complex.
Speaking at the event Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov noted that the “Junior Grand Prix in Figure Skating,” being held in Azerbaijan for the first time, marks a new stage in the development of winter sports in the country. The Minister emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev consistently pays special attention and care to the field of sports, underlining that the creation of a modern sports infrastructure and the implementation of a targeted state policy have positioned Azerbaijan as a prominent sports nation on the global stage.
Farid Gayibov added that hosting the Grand Prix in Azerbaijan not only contributes to the development of figure skating but also opens new opportunities for the overall growth of winter sports in the country. He wished success to all the athletes participating in the competition.
President of the International Skating Union, Jae Youl Kim, expressed his satisfaction that the “ISU Junior Grand Prix in Figure Skating” is being held in a rapidly developing country like Azerbaijan. He highlighted that Azerbaijan has become a reliable partner of the international sports community thanks to its modern infrastructure, organizational capacity, and strong support for youth. Kim noted that the Grand Prix will help promote figure skating across the region, strengthen sports relations among countries, and create a foundation for hosting larger international competitions in Azerbaijan in the future.
It should be noted that the Grand Prix, organized for the first time in Azerbaijan by the State Tourism Agency, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Azerbaijan Winter Sports Federation, and the International Skating Union, will last for three days. A total of 92 athletes from 38 countries are participating in the “ISU Junior Grand Prix in Figure Skating”.
On the first day of the competition, male and female skaters will perform their short programs. On September 25, men will present their free skate programs, while pairs will compete in the short dance category. On September 26, female skaters will perform their free programs, and pairs will present their free dance routines.
