Gymnastics (Azerbaijani: Gimnastika) is the unofficial national sport of Azerbaijan.
History
Gymnastics was introduced to Azerbaijan in USSR period as in 1961, Azerbaijani gymnast Lina Vinnikova participated in world tournament in Germany.
Aside from the artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics started to develop in Azerbaijan after the 1984 Summer Olympics. Rhythmic gymnastics particularly boosted after Mehriban Aliyeva become President of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation in 2002.
Azerbaijan produced many notable talented gymnasts including Valery Belenky, Aliya Garayeva, Anna Gurbanova, Dinara Gimatova and hosted big competitions like 2005 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, 2007 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships, 2009 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships and 2014 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships. As of November 2013, Yulia Inshina and Anna Pavlova will be representing Azerbaijan.
In 2015 National Gymnastics Arena was built in Azerbaijan.