Azerbaijan is one of the countries with ancient sports traditions. Historically various types of sports developed in our country.

Heydar Aliyev was the initiator and inspirer of the Olympic and Sports movement in Azerbaijan. He laid concrete missions on the responsible organizations in order to develop sports and gymnastics in the much wider geographical zone and propagate it, to get good results and to train sportsmen of world category.

In 2000 president of the National Olimpic Committee Ilham Aliyev invited Faig Garayev from Turkey and asked him to join the development processes in the country. Faig Garayev was appointed the major coach of the volleyball team of the women “Azerrail”. In 2002 “Azerrail” volleyball team won the ”Top Team” European Cup and became the first team of the Independent Azerbaijani Republic getting this cup.

“90 Instants of the Great leader”, Heydar Aliyev Heritage research center, “Sharq-Qarb”, Baku-2013, p.204