EOC 43rd General Assembly opens in Baku
By Nigar Orujova
The 43rd General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees
started in Baku on November 21.
The General Assembly is attended by delegates from European
national Olympic committees and senior managers of international
sports organizations.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban
Aliyeva joined the official opening of the two-day event.
President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach and
President of the European Olympic Committees Patrick Hickey
welcomed President Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva.
The presidential couple met with the senior managers of the
European Olympic Committees. Later, President Aliyev addressed the
official opening ceremony.
Presidents of the IOC and the EOC made speeches.
Following, Hickey presented the president and the first lady with
souvenirs of the EOC.
He also presented Thomas Bach with the Order of Merit, the award of the highest European Olympic Committees distinction, for his contribution to the development of sports globally and his commitment to Olympic ideals.
The General Assembly will hear reports on a number of topics,
including “Olympic Games”, “Marketing and Communication”, “Sport
for All, “Olympic Culture and Legacy”, “Medicine and Antidoping”,
and “Gender Equality”. It will also provide an insight into the
first European Games and hear a report of Baku 2015 European Games
Operations Committee.
The agenda also includes reports on the progress of preparations
for 2016 Summer Olympic Games, 2018 Winter Olympic Games and the
European Youth Olympic Festival.