Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation ARAF

In the middle of the last age the interest to various kinds of sport increased all over the world. And surely Azerbaijan took part in this process.July 26, 1994 the National Great Leader Heydar Aliyev signed the Decree on the establishment of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Thereby the foundation for development of sports in our country was laid.1990-93 – the period of establishment and recognition of the National Olympic Committee. A lot of problems concerning the national sport accumulated. And they should be solved. So the National Olympic Committee General Assembly elected Mr. Ilham Aliyev as its chairman. The development and implementation of measures to overcome the crises started. Hereby new Olympic centers meeting international standards appeared, and Olympic movement has widely spread all over the country.

Establishment of the Federation

October 26, 1996 Equestrian Sports Federation of Azerbaijan Republic (ARAIF) was established. But in March 5, 2009 the Equestrian Sports Federation underwent significant changes. That day the Olympic Committee elected new chairman of the Equestrian Sports Federation. The majority voted for Mr. Elchin Guliyev. Very soon the new Charter was adopted. According to it Equestrian Sports Federation of Azerbaijan Republic (ARAIF) was renamed to Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijanian Republic (ARAF).Nowadays we follow the latest tendencies in equestrian sport. ARAF actively develops and supports both classical and non-Olympic disciplines, and the national kind of sport. Don’t forget traditions and stay modern – this is our mission.

Achievements of the Federation

On this way it was the first achievement of EFAR to become a member of FEI ( Federation Equestre Internationale) in 1997. This is a great, responsible and serious step. New opportunities, new prerequisites, exciting competitions at the highest level, the national games, day-by-day a growing number of viewers- sure, we can say that we reached our mission and in this way there was the largest and most important role of Mr. Elchin Guliyev which has been elected as the President of the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan for the second time. Mr. Elchin Guliyev after being elected as the President of EFAR in 2009 two important steps more have been taken. Thus, EFAR in February 2010 was elected member to IFHA ( International Federation of Horseracing Authorities) and in December 2013 to FIP (Federation Internationale Polo). İn 2014 Mr. Elchin Guliyev was elected as the President of EFAR for the second time.