Baku 2028 Olympic Preparations: Azerbaijan's Athletes on the World Stage

Azerbaijani athletes are continuing their preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games at full speed. The year 2026 is critically important in this process — the battle to secure Olympic qualification through world and European championships, Grand Prix events, and selection tournaments is intensifying. In this article, we take a detailed look at the achievements of Azerbaijani athletes on the world stage, the training process, and expectations for Los Angeles 2028.

Azerbaijan's historic sporting achievements

Since gaining independence, Azerbaijan has achieved significant success in the Olympic movement. From 1996 through 2024, Azerbaijani athletes won a total of 18 gold, 20 silver, and 35 bronze medals at the Summer Olympic Games. Wrestling, boxing, judo, and shooting are our traditionally strong sports.

The inaugural European Games held in Baku in 2015 fundamentally improved Azerbaijan's sports infrastructure. The National Gymnastics Arena, Boxing Arena, Aquatics Center, and other modern sports facilities have enabled our athletes to train at a world-class level.

2026 competition results

In the first quarter of this year, Azerbaijani athletes have delivered strong results at several major international competitions:

**Wrestling:** Azerbaijani wrestlers won 3 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze medals at the European Championships. In freestyle wrestling, our athlete in the 74 kg weight class defeated an American opponent in the final to claim the gold medal. In Greco-Roman wrestling, we claimed podium finishes in 2 weight categories.

**Judo:** At the Grand Slam tournament, the Azerbaijani team finished third in the team standings. Our athletes won gold medals in the 73 kg and 81 kg weight classes. Our women's judo athletes are also making significant progress — a young athlete in the 57 kg category won a silver medal, demonstrating tremendous potential for the future.

**Boxing:** Azerbaijani boxers won 4 medals at the World Boxing Tour. Our athlete in the 71 kg class defeated a strong Cuban boxer in the semifinal to advance to the final. The boxing federation is paying special attention to developing young boxers — 6 medals were won at international youth tournaments this year.

**Shooting:** At a Shooting World Cup stage, Azerbaijani shooters claimed 2 gold and 1 silver medal. Our record-holder in rifle shooting broke the world record, raising medal expectations for the Los Angeles Olympics.

**Karate and taekwondo:** Azerbaijani athletes are delivering strong results in karate, which has been reinstated in the 2028 Olympic program. Two medals were won at the European Championships. In taekwondo, a young athlete has entered the world's top ten rankings.

Training infrastructure

Olympic preparation also requires significant infrastructure investment. Several major projects were implemented in 2026:

• A new Olympic Training Center has been built near Baku. The center features modern training halls equipped for 15 sports, a recovery center, a medical examination unit, and residential quarters. The facility fully meets international standards.
• A high-altitude training base has opened in the Quba district. Located at 2,000 meters above sea level, this base is designed for endurance athletes. The lower atmospheric pressure at this altitude enhances the body's oxygen-carrying capacity.
• An AI-powered performance analysis system has been deployed. This system monitors athletes' training via cameras and sensors, conducts motion analysis, and creates individualized development plans.
• A psychological preparation program has been expanded. Each athlete has been assigned an individual psychologist to work on competition stress, motivation, and mental resilience.

Financial support

The state budget allocation for Olympic preparation has been increased by 35 percent compared to 2025. The distribution of these funds is as follows:

• Athlete salaries and bonuses — 30 percent of the budget. Significant rewards are provided for medal-winning athletes.
• International competition participation — 25 percent. Athletes' participation in world championships, Grand Prix events, and selection tournaments is fully funded.
• Infrastructure and equipment — 20 percent. Procurement of modern training equipment, athletic apparel, and technology systems.
• Personnel training and foreign coaches — 15 percent. World-class foreign coaches have been brought in for several sports.
• Medical services and recovery — 10 percent. Protecting athlete health and rehabilitation from injuries.

The next generation and Olympic reserves

Developing young athletes is of particular importance in the Los Angeles 2028 preparations. The Ministry of Sports expanded the "Olympic Reserves" program in 2026:

• A nationwide screening program was conducted to identify talented athletes aged 14-18. Two hundred were selected from more than 3,000 young athletes.
• A special scholarship program has been established for selected young athletes. The program supports both their athletic and educational pursuits.
• The number of sports schools in the regions has been increased. Ten new specialized sports schools have opened outside Baku.
• Participation in international youth tournaments has intensified. In 2026, Azerbaijani young athletes competed in 45 international events.

Medal expectations

Sports experts put forward the following projections for Azerbaijan at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games:

• Wrestling — at least 3-4 medals (including 1-2 golds). This is our traditionally strongest discipline.
• Judo — 2-3 medals. Our judo team holds a strong position in the world rankings.
• Boxing — 2-3 medals. Our boxing program has shown significant development in recent years.
• Shooting — 1-2 medals. Having a world record holder boosts our gold medal chances.
• Karate — 1 medal. This sport has been reinstated in the Olympic program.
• Other sports — 1-2 medals. Surprise medals are expected in taekwondo, weightlifting, and swimming.

International cooperation

International cooperation plays a vital role in Azerbaijan's Olympic preparation. Joint training camps are held with Japan's judo federation. Boxing coaches invited from Cuba are refining the technique of Azerbaijani boxers. Cooperation with experienced coaches from the Russian wrestling school continues. Knowledge exchange in sports science and technology is conducted with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Conclusion

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will be an important test for Azerbaijani sports. The results of the 2026 preparation process are encouraging — our athletes are delivering strong results internationally, infrastructure is improving, and the next generation is rising. All conditions are being created to showcase the strength of Azerbaijani sports on the world stage once again. The main goal is to surpass our historic achievement and inscribe our country's name in Olympic history in even bolder letters.