A little over four months are left before the opening of the first European Games in Baku. “A team of big professionals are working on organizing the Baku 2015 Games,” Patrick Hickey, the president of the European Olympic Committee, said at the fifth session of its Coordination Commission. Hickey and Spiros Kapralos, the head of the Coordination Commission, arrived in Baku to inspect how the city was ready for the first European Games. When they chose the Azerbaijani capital for hosting the Games in December 2012, Baku decided to hold the event at the highest level.
Baku believes that the Games will be a historic event in European sports and a great opportunity for Azerbaijan to promote the country, its traditions, culture and history. Mehriban Aliyeva, the head of the Organizational Committee of Baku 2015, states that “hosting the first Games is honorable and responsible work. Today and tomorrow you will see that your trust in us is not in vain. Even though we have to correct our plans in the next few months, I hope that all of us can be proud of the results achieved.”
Many facilities have already been built for hosting the Games and are being checked, so that athletes could perform at the highest level this summer. 35 test events and competitions will be held before opening the Games in June. Competitions in gymnastics and boxing will take place in March and April. Baku plans to complete construction of all facilities in April.
“A positive factor is signing 84% of our contracts with Azerbaijani companies, which are working together with our team day and night. I am sure you will be excited, watching the facilities today. Our Athletes' Village meets international standards and consists of more than 1000 apartments with 7300 beds,” Mehriban Aliyeva said.
The first European Games will be covered by more than 600 journalists of international and local media. On June 10th an event for representatives of the international press will be arranged. 43 companies have the right to broadcast the event in more than 100 countries of the world. Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America and Australia will watch the Games. Moreover, 16 thousand volunteers have applied for participation in the Games.
Azad Rahimov, the Minister of the Youth and Sport, says that the organizational committee will not hold the Games alone: “We have 7 official partners. We are signing contracts with companies from Europe and other countries of the world to broadcast our Games. Interest in the Games from the international media is growing all the time. Our programs on volunteers and envoys are being fulfilled. Recently we have announced the star envoys of the European Games. They will help us to promote the Games in the country and abroad.”
“The Operational Committee of the European Games involves 950 young people in Baku. It is one of the most valuable legacies of the Games; it will be a big experience for their further life,” Mehriban Aliyeva is sure. She stresses that support for sports and the Olympic Movement is one of the main priorities for Azerbaijan, while the Games will unite all participants and build a firm foundation for the new sporting tradition.
Spiros Kapralos assessed highly the sporting infrastructure which was built in Azerbaijan; but Simon Clegg, the Director General for Operations of Baku 2015, explained that work was continuing, and local professionals participated in them along with international specialists.
The winners of the Baku 2015 Games will be awarded designed medals. Moreover, every day of the Games includes cultural events; and, of course, guests will see a thrilling closing ceremony.
