“Sport Time” magazine interviewed with the Vice president of Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation, Azer Aliyev. We bring it to your attention.
Our interviewer is the Deputy General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee, Vice president of Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation, Azer Aliyev, who sees sport as an integral part of his life. In the previous issue of “Sport Time” magazine, information about Azer Aliyev was published, but this time we have come to the readers’ opinion with a sincere interview. We present our conversation to sport fans.
– Mr.Azer, we know that sport is an integral part of your life. Interestingly, how did your interest in your sport start?
– From school years I was interested in many types of sports. I was engaged in basketball, football, tennis and swimming. But I did not put my lessons in the second plan, and I got good marks. Then, I began to engage in sport at the gyms and felt that my greatest interest is the sport of weightlifting. I trained in the gyms with barbells and dumb-bells. There I was advised that if I am engage in powerlifting, I can get good results. In those years, I was living in London, and my first competition was at the Powerlifting Junior Championship. I took second place in the first competition and this victory made me even more encouraged, and after that I was more confident. I became a participant of the European Championship and many international tournaments and achieved good results. And I can say that my career lasted more successfully years later. I am currently working at the National Olympic Committee, and I am also the Vice President of Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation. I can say with pride that I’m busy with my favourite job. This is a crucial part of our life. It is very interesting and proud to engage in preferred profession and to work in the field of sport.
– You’ve been engaged in powerlifting for many years. But who in your family supported you most?
– I become involved in powerlifting with my brother. Naturally, he was more supportive of me. My mother knew that the kind of sport, I was dealing with, was difficult, and in this regard, she wanted me to deal with less risk demanding sports. Powerlifting is a type of sport that increases the likelihood of injury. So my parents wanted me to engage in sports that are more comfortable. But after seeing my great interest and love in powerlifting, my mother also agreed. In my opinion, every person should deal with his favorite work. Because at this point the person feels happier …
– At the same time, you also love nature …
– Yes, I love nature very much. I enjoy being on a trip and watching the sea. I also want to say that it is very useful to run in the clean air, and to be active. When the weather is nice, I like to walk in the open air. I do not conceal my passion to nature and sea, on social networking sites as well (smiles). Besides, I also have great love for the animals. I am fond of dogs more. While I was living in London, I had dogs and now also has. We should be treated with love to all living beings of nature. True, some of them are quite dangerous, but they are an integral part of nature. When I was in Africa, I witnessed many dangerous animals. It is also interesting to watch movies about them. I have watched many such films.
– By the way, what are your most-liked films?
– Frankly speaking, I was more interested in the fright films before. Now, I’m watching at drama and comedy genre. The main thing is that the film should be interesting and meaningful. Moreover, I also love listening to music.
– In your love for music probably your mother, composer Sevil Aliyeva also has a role…
– Of course, I always listen to my mother’s songs with great pleasure. Music is the voice of the soul, and creating it requires great talent, heart. I grew up with this music from my childhood. My mother has a pretty good performance and popular music as a professional composer. It is wonderful to be able to witness all these, to grow up in such a family. It is always pleasant to hear Sevil Aliyeva’s music … I like to listen to artists like Muslim Magomayev, one of the well-known Azerbaijan musicians.
– Do you have friends in the sports world?
– I have good friends, and now the number of acquaintances is growing. As you know, I work at the National Olympic Committee, and here we meet and communicate with a large number of athletes.
– Mr.Azer, what about your life, what are your plans?
– To be honest, at present I have no serious plan. It is impossible to know what will happen tomorrow. Today, I am satisfied with my life and am engaged in work what I love. I would like to say that working at the National Olympic Committee is quite interesting and necessary. It is always vital to do sports. It is important for both health and to be fit. Sport is both lifestyle and the most beautiful practice for me and it builds people both physically and morally.
– Mr.Azer, let’s talk about your family relationships. Interestingly, what is your relationship with your sister and brother?
– We have very good relationships with my sister Zarifa and my brother Jiraf. We are also good friends. Sincere and kind with each other. True, we cannot meet very closely, since I moved to Baku, but we come together as soon as possible. My brother Jiraf has also been involved in many sports as well as powerlifting and achieved success in this sport. We often had trainings together. Jiraf also loves winter sports. Most of all, he has a great interest to skiing. In addition, he is engaged in swimming and running. Our interests are often overlapping. Both of us love animals and nature.
– Your grandfather- Great Leader Heydar Aliyev was a great personality, as well as founder of Azerbaijan. He has valuable ideas about sports. The slogan “Sport is Health and Culture” is also the motto of the “Sport Time” magazine. Interestingly, you remember what your granddad was saying to you …
– The Great Leader Heydar Aliyev was a gracious grandfather, as was the genius person. He was attentive and friendly to all his grandchildren and children. I would say that I remember every moment about my grandpa. He attached great importance to sports, health, and was a supporter of what we do sports. My grandfather wanted the community to engage in sports, and as you know, he was the closest friend of athletes. He greatly contributed to the development of sports as well as in all areas. This makes me very happy. At present, President Ilham Aliyev continues the successful policy of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and always pays attention to sports. As a result, the success of Azerbaijan in the Olympic Games and international competitions is increasing. Although we are a small country, we have great sporting successes. We have very strong athletes and they raise the flag of Azerbaijan in international competitions. This is a prime example of the care and attention shown by our country’s leadership to sport.
-Mr.Azer , by the way, our country Leader Ilham Aliyev is also a close friend of journalists. Mr. President always mentions the role of media in the development of all spheres in our country.
– True, today Mr. Ilham Aliyev has a great deal of attention and care for journalists. The role of the media in the recognition of athletes is crucial. In this regard, I wish success to the “Sport Time” magazine, which serves the development of sports. Such publications, in general, all sports media promote a healthy lifestyle and serve for greater recognition of athletes. Knowing our professional athletes, knowing about them is a very positive impact on our junior and young people. They take the example of these athletes themselves and live with a sense of victory. I express my gratitude to every athlete who has been gladdened our country with his\her victory, as well as media representatives who have made this statement.
– We also thank you for your interesting conversation.
Jale Rzabeyli, editor-in-chief
