Bishkek, Sept. 29, 2025 /Kabar/. On September 28, the solemn opening ceremony of the 3rd CIS Games was held in Ganja, AZERTAG reported.
Prior to the event, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with children who had lost their parents, family members, and close relatives, as well as those injured as a result of missile attacks on Ganja during the Patriotic War.
The head of state and First Lady then watched the official ceremony.
The ceremony began with the raising of the tricolor flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan, accompanied by the national anthem, followed by a ceremonial parade of athletes from the participating countries.
Azerbaijan’s flag was carried into the arena by karate fighter Asiman Gurbanli and taekwondo athlete Zemfira Hasanzade.
A total of 2,400 athletes from CIS countries, as well as Türkiye, Pakistan, Oman, Cuba, and Kuwait, which have joined them, will participate in the 10-day competition.
The city of Ganja was chosen as the “Sports Capital” of the 3rd CIS Games, a decision adopted at the meeting of the Physical Culture and Sports Council of CIS member states in Minsk, Belarus.
The 3rd CIS Games, running until October 8, will feature competitions at 12 venues, where athletes will compete for 1,694 medals (505 gold, 505 silver, and 684 bronze) across 23 sports. In addition, athletes who make the greatest contribution to the success of the winning teams will be awarded special prizes.
The 1st CIS Games were held in 2021 in Kazan, Russia, and the 2nd in 2023 in Minsk, Belarus.