ACROBATIC GYMNASTICS

Acrobatics is a very ancient sports discipline. In ancient era, motives of acrobatic movements found their reflection in ancient Greek poems “Odyssey” and “Iliad”. There were demonstrated comic numbers with acrobatic elements between comedy performances written by Aristophanes (IV B.C.) at the ancient Greek theatres. The word “acrobat” derived from the Greek term “akrobatos” and means “going up”. The first book displaying execution of acrobatic movements in physical education has been written by I. Merkurialis in 1573. A development of sports in the XIX century and new acrobatic movements emerged at that period became an integral part of already existing sports movements. Although acrobatics is an ancient sports discipline, this discipline (acrobatic jumps) was only once included in the program of the X Olympic Games (Los Angeles, USA, 1932) as an independent sports discipline.

In 1973, the International Federation of Sports Acrobatics was established and statutes of the new organization, as well as competitions’ regulations were ratified in Moscow with participation of 10 countries (Bulgaria, England, Hungary, GDR, Cuba, Poland, USSR, USA, FRG and Yugoslavia). Stoil Satirov (Bulgaria) was the first President of the International Federation of Sports Acrobatics. The first World Championships was held in Moscow in 1974.

ACROBATICS IN AZERBAIJAN

A history of origination and development of acrobatics in Azerbaijan dates back to 1920-1930. G. Safarov, G. Bejanov, Y. Yurfeld, D. Dvoryankin, I. Kiselev and K. Aghayev played a great role in development of Azerbaijan acrobatics as a sports discipline at that period. In 1936, the first unofficial tournament was held in Baku and only exercises in a group form for men were included in its program. Afterwards, Azerbaijani acrobats began to take part in all-USSR events.

In 1960-1990, our acrobats achieved significant results at all-USSR and international competitions. During those years, the sports honor of our country was defended within men’s pairs - by brothers Bahram and Elshad Narimanov’s, A. Bakhshiyev and N. Babayev, R. Gasimov and Y. Yuchkin, Y. Mamonov and N. Narimanov, S. Rajabov and O. Klimashkin, A. Mustafayev and S. Jabrayilov, within mixed pairs – by A. Rajabov and T. Yashinkina, within women’s group exercises – by L. Kharchenko, S. Sundikova and E. Guliyeva, within men’s group exercises – by R. Mammadov, B. Ravinov, G. Galimayev and E. Azimov, M. Alakbarov, A. Bakhshiyev, A. Gafarov and E. Guliyev, D. Javadov, S. Baghirov. A. Abbasov and A. Babayev.

Azerbaijan Federation of Sports Acrobatics became a member of the International Federation of Sports Acrobatics in 1993, and our sportsmen were permitted to compete at the World and European Championships starting from that moment.

Successfully performing in men’s group exercises, Azerbaijani acrobats Elshan Seyfullayev, Elkhan Shahbazzada, brothers Valery and Aleksandr Lichkin’s won the title of the all-around winners at the World Championships among junior teams in Moscow in 1993. Other acrobats A. Mustafayev and S. Jabrayilov also demonstrated worthy performances at the European and World Championships within men’s pair. Great contributions to formation of strong acrobatic traditions in Azerbaijan were made by such distinguished coaches as Bahram Narimanov, Arif Ahadov, Adil Huseynzada, Elshad Narimanov, Azar Karimov, Arif Gafarov, Aghakarim Salimov, Yuriy Demyanenko, Avaz Abbasov.

2009 became a new reference point for Azerbaijani acrobatics. The women’s pair consisting of Ayla Ahmadova and Dilara Sultanova, at first, became the silver medalist of the World Games in Taiwan and the World Cup in Russia, as well as the winner of several international tournaments. And apotheosis of the acrobats’ career, trained by a coach Irada Gurbanova, was the gold medals from the European Championships in Portugal. At present, several sections in acrobatics are successfully functioning in Baku and Shabran.