The event started with brief information to the guests about the activities of the National Olympic Committee a member of the Executive Board of the Giulio Onesti Foundation Claudia Giordani spoke at the event. Giving information about the project, the Italian guest noted that Run for Art is an international competition for young photographers conceived by the Culio Onesti Foundation. The purpose of the competition is to combine art and sports.

The competition is for amateur and professional photographers under 35, who can join from any country in the world. For each edition a different theme is proposed according to 5 different aspects: the number of categories represents symbolically 5 Olympic rings. Topics such as ethics, diversity and inclusion in sports are explored through sports and photography.

As in a sports competition 8 finalists are selected for each of the 5 categories, for a total of 40 photographs, which enter the final stage of the contest. The photographs are selected by international jury, which represents all the fields involved from art, sport and media. Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee Secretary General Azer Aliyev is a member of the jury of the international photo contest.

At the end of her speech, Mrs. Claudia Giordani thanked the organizers of the event and wished success to the photographers. 

Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee Vice-President Chingiz Huseynzada expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Culture for support in organization of the contest. Noting that the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan was established 30 years ago, Chingiz Huseynzada said that the Olympic Movement was rooted deeply in our country over the years: “The Olympic is not only sport, but also the promotion of sports. Education and art have a special place here. I am glad that Azerbaijani photographers are among the winners of the contest.”

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Minister of Culture Anar Karimov said that sport and culture complement each other. He noted that sport strengthens body, and culture enriches the spirit.

Awards were presented after the speeches. The winners of the edition are: Tetsu Chih-Ching Lee (Taiwan) in baseball and softball category; Gökhan Taner (Turkey) in karate category; Max Dunlap (USA) in skateboarding category; Julia Cassou (France) in sport climbing category and Rhys Bates (Australia) in surfing category.

Winners from Turkey and France joined the awarding ceremony arranged in Baku. Representative from Azerbaijan Nariman Babayev won the 3rd place in karate category. A young amateur photographer Bayram Musayev was among the finalists in skateboarding category.

The entertainment part of the event included mugham and classical music.

The exhibition of the finalists of the international photo contest "Run for Art" will be open to visitors until April 16 at the International Mugham Center.

 

 

1st place Baseball and softball, Tetsu Chih-Ching Lee (Taiwan)

 

1st place Karate, Gökhan Taner (Turkey)

 

1st place Skateboarding, Max Dunlap for Life Rolls On Foundation (United States)

 

1st place Sport climbing, Julia Cassou (France)

 

1st place Surfing, Rhys Bates (Australia)

 

3rd place Karate, Nariman Babayev (Azerbaijan)

 

Finalist Skateboarding, Bayram Musayev (Azerbaijan)

 

1st place winner in sport climbing Julia Cassou (France) and Mrs, Claudia Giordani a member of the Executive Board of the Giulio Onesti Foundation, CONI Vice-President, former Olympic ski champion

 

1st place winner in karate Gökhan Taner (Turkey)

 

3rd place winner in karate Nariman Babayev (Azerbaijan)

 

Finalist in skateboarding Bayram Musayev (Azerbaijan)