Every year, 5 March is celebrated as “Physical Education and Sports Day” in our country. The celebration of “Physical Education and Sports Day” in Azerbaijan exactly on this day is not a coincidence. On 5 March 1995, National Leader Heydar Aliyev met with winners and awardees of the world and European championships in Baku Sports Palace and set up Sports Foundation. Thus, the foundation of a new strategy for the development of physical education and sports has been laid in our country.

Sport collections concerning various periods are preserved in the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan. The exhibits playing a necessary role in    Azerbaijani sport history draw the attention of visitors.

There are wooden clubs (mil) (zurkhaneh equipment) of the 16^th-18^th centuries, miniature of chovgan game, pahlavan trousers and “bargir”, which was used as a sport equipment in zurkhaneh, among demonstrated exhibits. The facts confirm that the chovgan contests were well-known across Azerbaijan long ago. The painting describing the chovgan game depicted on glazed vessel found during archaeological excavations in Orangala visually proves that this game was widespread in the town of Beylagan in the 9^th century.

It shoud be also noted that “Golden whistle” higher award was presented by honored figure of physical education and sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Honored coach, referee of Olimpic category in wrestling Hijran Sharifov Ibrahim in 2014 and “Gold medal” of Baku 2015 European Games by Ministry of Youth and Sports to the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan in 2015. Those exhibits are preserved as precious gems of Azerbaijani sport history in the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is a country possessing substantial sport traditions. These traditions have thousand years of history and development path with its ups and downs. Nowadays, Azerbaijani sport is moving towards conquering its highest peaks.