DEVELOPMENT
> The rebuilding of Azerbaijan
Looking towards the finish
line on the River Kur at the
Mingachevir Training Centre
in Azerbaijan.
© Matt Draper
especially by introducing rowing to young
people. At present very little rowing structure
exists across Azerbaijan. There are few clubs and
no schools that currently teach rowing.
>
The Federation is planning that within a few
years there will be a greater base of top rowers
to compete at national and international
competitions. “For this season, the World Cup
regattas, the U23 World Championships and
Olympic qualification are at the heart of our
efforts,” says Hauffe.
weather, ice and snow, we still have pleasant
temperatures. The river flows very slowly and
except for rowers and canoeists, there are only
fish, birds and nature.”
President Aliyev opened the Mingachevir Olympic
Centre recently and stated, “Azerbaijan is already
a sporting country, everybody knows that.
However, rowing in Azerbaijan was not sufficiently
developed in Soviet times. Today we can see
it developing. It is not only the infrastructure,
but also the professionalism of athletes that
is improving. Coaches have been invited from
overseas. I am confident that our rowers will
represent Azerbaijan at the upcoming Olympic
Games with dignity.”
● M.S.B.
The Mingachevir centre also hopes to attract
other nations to train at the venue. “Right now
there is a selected team from Russia training in
Mingachevir and other bookings already exist. Our
centre is open to everyone. We are very much
interested to also welcome foreign teams.”
Toni Boteva of Azerbaijan
qualified twice for the
A-final at the World Rowing
Junior Championships - in
2008 and 2010.
“The climate is very good,” says Hauffe,
“especially in the autumn and winter months
when the rest of Europe is affected by cold
