NPC Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Airlines sign cooperation agreement

The agreement will benefit Azerbaijani athletes toward the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. 10 Feb 2016

Elshan Huseynov, Powerlifting, Azerbaijan, Almaty 2015

Azerbaijan’s won the country's first medal in the men’s up to 107kg class at the 2015 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships.

ⒸKonstantin Kniazevych & Anatoly Kudyakov

By Azerbaijan Airlines

"The Paralympic Games are an important and socially significant event in the development of sports in our country. It is a great honour for us to support our athletes."

The National Paralympic Committee of Azerbaijan and national air carrier Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) signed a cooperation agreement on Wednesday 10 February in the capital Baku.

The cooperation provides transfer of athletes to international sports Championships and World Cups where Azerbaijan Airlines fly; exemption of sports equipment transportation from additional duties; and holding joint activities for promotion of para-sports.

In particular, within the cooperation, AZAL will organise athletes’ flights to the 2016 Paralympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 7-18 September.

Medal-winners of the 2016 Paralympic Games will be awarded free tickets valid for a year to any destination of AZAL.

Shaig Hamidov, vice-president of the National Paralympic Committee of Azerbaijan said: "The Paralympic Games are one of the most prestigious competitions for athletes with disabilities. Selections for these competitions are held not only within national, but also global competitions. The support of the Azerbaijan Airlines will make a great contribution to the development of Paralympic sports in our country."

Added Eldar Hajiyev, vice president of AZAL: "The Paralympic Games are an important and socially significant event in the development of sports in our country. It is a great honour for us to support our athletes."