Azerbaijani president, first lady inspect construction of new stadium, complexes in Ganja PHOTO / UPDATED

On August 20, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva conducted an official visit to the city of Ganja, inspecting a series of ongoing construction and development projects.

During their visit to the Ganja city stadium, Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the progress of the construction work, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The Ganja city stadium, originally built between 1959 and 1963 and commissioned in 1964, had seen its spectator stands deteriorate in recent years, rendering them partially unusable and limiting the facility’s operations.

Based on a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev in 2023, an initial allocation of one million manat was provided from the President’s Reserve Fund for the design and implementation of the stadium’s reconstruction. On April 9 of the previous year, the head of state laid the foundation for the project.

Azerbaijan will host the 3rd Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games from September 28 to October 8 this year. While several cities and districts have been selected for the event, the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the main competitions, will take place in Ganja. With this in mind, construction work at the city stadium has been accelerated. The stadium’s territory now includes auxiliary training fields and a Football Academy building. The stadium’s area has been expanded to 10.4 hectares, with the total area of the sports complex, including safe vehicle access, parking, and infrastructure, exceeding 12 hectares.

Constructed in accordance with UEFA’s Category 4 standards, the stadium will have a seating capacity of 15,343. It will feature designated seating for spectators with disabilities, as well as media and VIP zones. The facility will also include modern dressing rooms for players, conference rooms, medical facilities, referee rooms, technical staff areas, and other necessary spaces. Additional amenities such as ticket offices, various catering outlets, parking areas, and security checkpoints will be established. The stadium will be equipped with UEFA-compliant lighting, sound, broadcasting, internet, ventilation, security, and other essential systems. Extensive landscaping and greening works are also progressing on the stadium grounds.

During their visit, the President and First Lady also toured the construction site of the Hajikend recreation complex, assessing progress and future plans for the facility.

Ramin Guluzade, Head of the President's Administrative Services Department, briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the work completed and planned activities.

The complex, covering an area of approximately 23 hectares across the Hajikend settlement in Ganja city and the Banovshali village in Goygol District, will accommodate up to 452 guests at a time. The complex will feature 133 rooms of various categories, 19 single-story standard cottages, and 10 two-story VIP cottages.

Set amidst stunning natural landscapes, the complex will include restaurants and cafes offering delicious dishes from national and international cuisines. In addition to leisure opportunities, the facility will provide conditions to support guests’ health and well-being, including access to an indoor swimming pool, traditional SPA services, and a fitness center equipped with modern exercise equipment.

To enhance the recreational experience, the complex will offer karaoke, a board game room, and vibrant, specially designed zones for children to create unforgettable memories. Football and basketball courts, as well as walking trails, will provide active leisure opportunities against the backdrop of scenic mountain views.

Furthermore, a 90-seat conference hall, designed in a theatrical style and equipped with modern technical equipment, will be established for business meetings, conferences, and various events. Once operational, the complex is expected to create approximately 300 jobs.

They also visited the Ganja Memorial Complex to review the ongoing restoration and development work. Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the progress of the project.

President Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation for the Ganja Memorial Complex in January 2022. The complex, which will reflect the crimes committed by the Armenian military against civilians during the 44-day Patriotic War, is being established on the site of residential buildings and a former park that were struck by missile attacks. Spanning a total area of 4 hectares, the complex will feature a two-story museum building and an exhibition hall. The exhibition will showcase the atrocities committed against civilians, and the sites of destroyed buildings will be displayed for visitors. Additionally, a conference hall will be created within the complex. Landscaping efforts in the park area will include planting approximately 700 trees, over 12,000 decorative shrubs, and flowers. A spiral crater, symbolizing the impact of a missile launched by the Armenian military, will have a depth of 13 meters. Currently, final construction work on the museum building, the organisation of the exhibition, and landscaping works are underway.

By Khagan Isayev