Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The city of Ganja, Azerbaijan, has officially been designated the “Sports Capital of the CIS”.

The title was awarded during a formal ceremony held in the Heydar Aliyev Park Complex. The official certificate was presented to the city authorities by Manuchehr Khojizoda, Deputy Director of the Department for Cooperation in Political, Humanitarian, and Social Affairs of the CIS Executive Committee.

To mark the occasion, the city hosted sports demonstrations and a celebratory concert.

Ganja was granted the status in connection with its role as the host city of the 3rd CIS Games.

The “Sports Capitals of the Commonwealth” initiative is part of an intergovernmental cooperation program that aims to promote physical culture and sports, as well as to strengthen friendship and collaboration among the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

This designation showcases Ganja’s capacity in terms of infrastructure and event organization, while also deepening sporting integration among CIS countries.