CEV President meets Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports during visit to Baku

As he is currently on some sort of a roadshow to visit all of the countries playing host to the CEV Trendyol EuroVolley 2026 Women, CEV President Roko Sikirić travelled earlier this week to Baku where the Pool C matches are being contested at the iconic National Gymnastics Arena. The journey coincided with the second visit paid by the CEV President to the so-called ‘Land of Fire’ after a previous stay for a number of high-profile meetings in the spring of 2025. 

During his visit to Baku, the CEV President had a meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr Farid Gayibov, who is also the President of European Gymnastics. The discussions revolved around the development of Volleyball in Azerbaijan, international competitions hosted by the Caucasus country, as well as cooperation between the CEV and the Azerbaijan Volleyball Federation in a variety of areas, including the School Project ‘Play Volleyball – Grow with it’. The CEV President and Minister subsequently attended the Pool C match between Belgium and Azerbaijan. Mr Sikirić was accompanied by CEV Vice-President and Treasurer Guy Juwet. 

As part of his visit, a meeting was held on August 26 between the CEV President, the President of the Azerbaijan Volleyball Federation (AVF) Mr Shahin Baghirov, the President of Volley Belgium Mr Guy Juwet and the President of the Royal Spanish Volleyball Federation Mr Felipe Pascual Bernaldez. The event, organised at the Volleyball Centre of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, was also attended by AVF Vice-President Mr Bahruz Guliyev, Secretary General Mr Faiq Orujov, representatives of all three federations, as well as members of the Azerbaijan Youth National Teams.

During the meeting, Memorandums of Understanding were signed between the Azerbaijan Volleyball Federation and the Belgian and Spanish Volleyball Federations. The documents were signed by the Presidents of the respective Federations. The memorandums cover matters related to the development of cooperation in both Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. 

Under the agreements, the organisation of joint training camps for the Volleyball and Beach Volleyball national teams of Azerbaijan, Belgium and Spain, the exchange of experience between athletes and coaches, as well as the implementation of various joint activities, are envisaged.