Mingachevir State University Hosts the “I Green Campus Sports Festival”: A Large-Scale Sports Movement for Healthy Living, Environmental Awareness, and a Green Future
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On May 10, 2026, the “I MSU Green Campus Sports Festival”, dedicated to the 103rd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, was jointly organized by Mingachevir State University and the Central Aran Regional Youth and Sports Department under the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The festival, aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people, strengthening environmental culture, encouraging green thinking, and advancing sustainable campus life, attracted significant attention as one of the region’s largest green sports initiatives.
More than 3,000 participants attended the festival, including the academic and administrative staff of Mingachevir State University, students, master’s students, alumni, the leadership of the Central Aran Regional Youth and Sports Department, professional and amateur athletes, representatives of partner organizations, members of the local community, and media representatives.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony, Azad Mirzabayov, Head of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Department of MSU, emphasized that the university’s “Green Campus” strategy is not limited solely to environmental initiatives, but also represents a comprehensive development model integrating healthy lifestyles, physical activity, social well-being, and responsible citizenship values. He noted that the modern campus environment established at the university contributes to the development of environmental awareness among students, promotes sustainable lifestyle habits, and supports the strengthening of a healthy society model. A.Mirzabayov stressed that integrating sports, ecology, and social responsibility on a single platform is one of the key directions of the sustainable university model of the future.
In his speech, Azad Gozalov, Head of the Central Aran Regional Youth and Sports Department, stated that increasing young people’s interest in sports, promoting healthy lifestyles, and expanding mass sports movements in the regions are among the key priorities of the state youth policy. He highlighted that such innovative and socially oriented initiatives organized jointly with Mingachevir State University make an important contribution to the physical and moral development of young people and expressed gratitude to all parties involved in organizing the festival.
As part of the festival, marathon/running events, volleyball, football, swimming, cycling races, table tennis, and eco-competitions were organized. Students, university staff, alumni, and representatives of partner institutions actively participated in the competitions.
The marathon/running and cycling activities were organized along the central streets of Mingachevir. Covering green zones and open-air routes throughout the city, these activities became an exemplary public platform promoting environmental responsibility, active urban living, and the reduction of carbon emissions. One of the most notable aspects of the festival was that participants primarily arrived at the venue without private cars — by walking, cycling, or using public transportation. Through this approach, participants demonstrated support for public awareness efforts related to sustainable mobility, clean transportation, and reducing carbon footprints in urban environments.
Various sports competitions within the festival were held in open-air and green surroundings, creating an environmentally safe and healthy atmosphere for participants. At the end of the competitions, winning teams and individual participants were awarded medals, trophies, and special certificates.
The event continued with concert programs and musical performances. As part of the artistic segment of the festival, participants enjoyed live performances and open-air music programs, further enhancing the festival’s dynamic and energetic atmosphere.
One of the festival’s most remarkable initiatives was the establishment of the “Green Nutrition Zone.” The zone featured local and seasonal products, organic foods, environmentally friendly consumption models, and plastic-free packaging solutions. At the same time, within the framework of the “Zero Waste Food” concept, approaches promoting the minimization of food waste, reuse, and responsible consumption were encouraged.
It should be noted that the “I MSU Green Campus Sports Festival” is regarded as an exemplary platform that not only forms an important part of the university’s institutional initiatives in environmental sustainability, green lifestyles, healthy campus environments, and social well-being, but also contributes to promoting green thinking and sustainable development values across the region.
Source of the news: https://mdu.edu.az/en/i_msu_green_campus_sport_festival_10-05-26/
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