I European Games Torch to be transported over all nature’s elements

The Baku 2015 Flame will be started in the museum-historic complex of Ateshgah on April 26th.

Azerbaijan is known as the Land of Fire, so it is fitting that Baku 2015 will capture the European Games Flame from the ground at Ateshgah, an ancient and sacred temple which was built on the site of the "eternal" inextinguishable fires, burning outputs of natural gas.

The race is to start on Sunday, the 26th of April. Then the fire in the course of 47 days will overcome the route, the length of which is more than 5000 kilometers, before it ignites the cup at the opening ceremony on the 12th of June. The torch will be held more than 1,000 times and it will be carried across the country by bus, cable car, bicycle, boat, air and in the underground of Baku.

“The copper head that protects the flame is also in the form of a pomegranate – its 50 pips representing the number of nations participating in the Games. The top part resembles tongues of fire, the symbol of Azerbaijan. At each location, the flame will be transferred to an oil-fired lamp, based on an iconic Azeri design incorporating the pomegranate tree motive from the torch and games identity,” Sebastian Burns, designer of the Torch, says.

"Fire will be in Baku on the 7th of June. During 5 days colorful events will be taking place in Baku and they will present the best sights of the city. On the 7th of June the torch is to arrive in Baku. On Monday, the 8th of June, the torch will be delivered to all playgrounds of the city. On the 9thof June the torchbearers will carry it through the ancient part of Baku. On the 10th of June the torch will visit several cultural events which are to take place in buildings of traditional and modern culture,” Catherine Ugwu, Baku 2015 Director of Ceremonies, says.

"In less than two months, the first European Games will enter history as the biggest sporting competition on the continent. Every citizen of Azerbaijan can be proud that the Games are taking place in our country," Azad Rahimov, Minister of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan, thinks.