President Ilham Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan will host either a World Cup or European Championship in skiing every year. The initiative aims to complement the country's summer Formula One races by boosting winter tourism. This year's World Cup event is set for Shahdag.
During an event titled “Azerbaijan Executive Breakfast” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Ilham Aliyev shared plans to elevate Azerbaijan's profile in winter sports. Speaking to business representatives from various countries, he highlighted the nation's growing ties with the International Ski Federation.
“This year a World Cup event will be held in Shahdag. Our relationship with the International Ski Federation has started, and it is already included in the calendar,” Aliyev stated. He emphasized that such events would occur annually, alternating between World Cup and European Championship levels.
The president linked this development to Azerbaijan's successful Formula One Grand Prix, which has been held for over a decade. “This will, to a certain degree, balance our summer event, which is Formula One, which for more than 10 years has already attracted a lot of interest and played a very important role in the growing number of tourists. After the first Formula One, we had 20 percent growth,” he explained.
This strategy reflects Azerbaijan's broader efforts to diversify its tourism offerings and strengthen international partnerships in sports. By integrating winter events, the country seeks to maintain year-round appeal for visitors, building on the economic momentum from motorsport.
