On November 16, 2025, the grand opening ceremony of the “Velo-Park – Healthy Youth, Green Campus” project, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and implemented jointly with the Azerbaijan Cycling Federation (AzVIF), was held at Mingachevir State University (MSU).

The presentation ceremony of the project, which aims to increase the physical activity of young people and promote environmental responsibility within the framework of MSU’s new “2030 Development Strategy” and “Green Campus” concept, was attended by Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov, Vice-President of AzVIF Fikrat Huseynov, Rector of MSU Anar Eminov, leaders and representatives of the Central Aran Regional Youth and Sports Department and the Mingachevir City Education Sector as well as the academic and administrative staff of MSU, students and master’s  students, principals of the city’s secondary schools, public and media representatives.

The event began with a symbolic bicycle ride. A group of 70 active female students started the ride in front of the main academic building of Mingachevir  State University and finished in front of the Olympic Training and Sports Center (OTIM).

First, the dear memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, our heroes who died for the homeland, and the Turkish soldiers who died in a plane crash that occurred November 11 was commemorated with a minute of silence, and the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played.

In his speech,The Rector of  Mingachevir  State University  Anar Eminov noted that the project is in line with the state policy implemented in our country to promote a healthy lifestyle and involve young people in sports.

He emphasized that the project is consistent with the strategic goals of Mingachevir  State University and will make a significant contribution to increasing the social and physical activity of female students, especially from the regions.

The rector thanked the Ministry, led by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Farid Gayibov, for the support provided in the development of the project.He said that he bicycles presented by the federation to 70 female students had  helped strengthened the material and technical base of the project and created conditions for attract a wider student audience in the process

In his speech, Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov noted the project’s contributions to the formation of healthy and active youth in the regions and university environments.The Minister said that the cycling infrastructure created at Mingachevir  State University creates accessible and sustainable opportunities for students to regularly engage in sports  and this initiative will have a positive impact on increasing interest in sports in higher education institutions.

The Minister highly appreciated the cooperation demonstrated in the preparation and implementation of the project, emphasized the importance of AzVIF’s support, and thanked the university administration.He said that the Ministry is ready to support such initiatives that increase the physical activity of young people in the future.

In his speech, AzVIF Vice President Fikrat Hajiyev highlighted the project’s contribution to the development of sports infrastructure in the regions.He said that the bicycle park created at Mingachevir  State University will serve to form new habits and promote a healthy lifestyle for students and the city community.

Fikrat Hajiyev stated that the federation’s support for this initiative is consistent with its activities aimed at popularizing cycling among young people and emphasized that cooperation with the university will be continuous.

The Chairman of the Mingachevir City Organization of the New Azerbaijan Party, Bakhtiyar Mustafayev, stated in his speech  that the comprehensive development of youth in our country is one of the priority directions of state policy.He emphasized that the youth policy defined by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev in accordance with the requirements of the modern era creates broad opportunities for young people to grow up healthy, active and in a spirit of patriotism.

Bakhtiyar Mustafayev noted that the project, as an integral part of this policy  will make a significant contribution to strengthening the physical activity, social development, and healthy lifestyle habits of young people in Mingachevir.He expressed his gratitude to all project partners, emphasized  that the continuation of such initiatives will further enrich the youth development environment in the city.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to symbolize the presentation of the bicycles to the university as part of the project.

Afterwards, letters of appreciation were presented to those who were selected for their active participation in the project’s organizational work, and 70 female students selected for the project were given certificates for their participation.

The project was announced on September 10 of this year, and more than 400 female students applied.Participants who successfully completed the selection stages improved their knowledge and skills by participating in educational trainings, cycling courses, and city tours.

These activities not only served to improve sports skills, but also to form values such as team spirit, leadership, safety culture and environmental responsibility.The new group of female cyclists formed at the end of the project had become one of the active figures of the Mingachevir  State University’s “Green Campus” movement.

It should be noted that the “Velo-Park – Healthy Youth, Green Campus” project is not only an important step in terms of putting a new sports venue into operation at Mingachevir State University but also in terms of strengthening values such as health, environmental awareness and student solidarity.The next stages of the project will cover a wider student audience and accelerate MSU’s development towards a green, healthy and modern campus model.