The report was made by the official website of the President of Azerbaijan.

On welcoming the sportsmen, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Dear friends, dear sportsmen!

I welcome and congratulate you on a great victory in London. Our Paralympians raised high the flag of Azerbaijan. This is a great victory, a great achievement. Our team was represented by 21 sportsmen. Our sportsmen have won 12 medals. There are those of our competitors who have won several medals.

And that, I think, is an excellent result, a very big victory. Our team is in the 27th place. We have four gold, five silver and three bronze medals.

This is really a great and historical victory. Our Paralympians have repeatedly participated in the Paralympic Games. But the biggest victory was been gained at the games in London.

Once again, I congratulate you on this great victory. Are you brought joy to your people, demonstrated your professionalism and devotion to the homeland since the source of victory in sports is love and devotion to the motherland and the people.

Azerbaijan is a country of sports. I have several times expressed  my thoughts about it. Life and your progress once again confirm this for our sportsmen were successful at both Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Rising to a high level on a global scale is a very big result. Every victory, every success further enhance the glory of our country. This, of course, is your victory, the success of athletes, their coaches and sports professionals. But, at the same time, it is a success of our state and nation.

We will never forget those happy days and moments that both Olympians, and after them you have brought to us in London. Every citizen took your every victory as their own.

We did manage to achieve great success in sports. We have created the sports infrastructure.

A new sports complex was built and commissioned for Paralympians in 2008. I remember our meeting there with you before you left for Beijing. You also showed good results in Beijing but the results in London were even higher.

We have already been able to take our rightful place among the famous sports countries. Of course, this victory inspires us and at the same time suggests that in the future there will be even bigger victories.

This is very significant that the number of victories in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games  is increasing every time, and the place of our teams among other teams is getting higher.

That is, this shows the dynamics. Therefore, our citizens are in some way used to this situation. Each time, they expect more victories from the sportsmen, and they are right. But at the same time it is very difficult to win a victory, it requires a very large physical, moral strength and professionalism.

Our victories are well-known throughout the world. It also shows that our victories are not random. Both in the Olympics, and after them in the Paralympics our teams take the highest places. Four gold, five silver and three bronze medals and the 27th place is a great honor.

I congratulate all of you on this occasion. You deserve this victory. I remember meeting with you and our Olympic athletes before the Olympics. When seeing you off, we looked to the future with high hopes. Personally, I was sure you will, gladden the people of Azerbaijan. And it really happened.

This victory is worthy of you, this victory is worthy of Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan is also worthy of this victory. Azerbaijan is a strong, dynamic state. We have success in all fields, Azerbaijan is making a steady progress in all areas.

Azerbaijan's success in the political arena, in the international arena and in the economic sphere is already a reality, the world community knows and approves it. Sometimes our experience is studied, and processes in Azerbaijan become exemplary.

Sport shows the strength of a country. Attention and care about sports must be the public policy of any country. This is true for Azerbaijan. The basis of our success lies with the state policy. We have a great young generation growing up.

Our boys were on top after the Olympic Games in the world wrestling championshup. At the first Youth Olympic Games they managed to take the 11th place.

That is a new generation is growing up, there is a dynamic, thoughtful approach, the  concept and the public policy. It is the government policy, professionalism of our athletes, activity of specialists, joint activities of federations, the Olympic and Paralympic Committees that are responsible for this success.

But the sportsmen have their final say. You have your final say, we are pleased to have you back home with a big victory. Once again, I congratulate you and wish you success and health.

Then followed the ceremony of awarding the athletes who have achieved success at the Paralympic Games in London, and their coaches.

The awards were presented by President Ilham Aliyev.

Two-time Paralympic champion Ilham ZAKIEV: Thank you, Mr. President, so help you God. This will inspire  us to new victories. Thanks to your attention  following the "Gizil Chinar" award I further intensified my trainings.

Any medal at the Paralympic Games is a victory for me. After 1450 days in Rio de Janeiro, we will strive to please you with even better results.

The winner of the Paralympic Games in London Ramin Ibrahimov: Thank you, Mr. President. Your attention and care further inspires us.

Even when I took the third place in Beijing, I set a goal: to bring the gold medal from London And I got it. My biggest dream was to see Mr.President raising my hand. Thanks a lot.

President Ilham Aliyev raises Ramin Ibrahimov’s hand.

Coach Aganagi Jafarov: Mr. President, the greatest victory is yours. You have brought Ramil Safarov back some. It was difficult to believe that. You arethe greatest Olympic champion.

Head coach of the Paralympic team of Azerbaijan Maharram Sultanzade: Mr. President, our team has successfully performed at the XIV Paralympic Games in London and returned home with a big win. The biggest dream of any athlete is to rise to a higher level, when the flag of Azerbaijan will be raised and our national anthem will be heard in his honor.

Your words "Azerbaijan is a strong state and a strong state must have strong athletes" were proven in London. Our athletes won four gold, five silver and three bronze medals. This is a great achievement. It is your achievement and the achievement of the whole Azerbaijani people. I want to express my deep gratitude to you on behalf of all Paralympians.

President Ilham Aliyev: Dear friends, I once again congratulate you. I am very glad that the Azerbaijani sport really gained recognition in the world. Azerbaijani sport is glorified by you - our Olympians and Paralympians, youth sports, youth, teens. We all want to ensure that the sport in Azerbaijan grew even more rapidly.

We all strive to make our country stronger, to have even more influence. Sport has its place in world politics.

Olympic and Paralympic Games  are the games, the competitions where countries compete with each other. And in this competition, Azerbaijan occupies one of the high places. And it is all thanks to you.

Once again, I congratulate you. I wish you good health and success.

A memory photo was taken in the end.

News.Az