Sport occupies special place in Azerbaijan’s society: Hickey
By Nigar Orujova
The Azerbaijani government and Baku 2015 European Games, led respectively by President Ilham Aliyev and Azad Rahimov, Youth and Sports Minister and Baku 2015 CEO, made a strong impression at the 2015 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The Azerbaijani delegation worked to promote the inaugural European Games, to be held in Baku on June 12-28, and highlighted the positive impact which the games will have on the Azerbaijani economy.
President Aliyev made a speech at the event.
A number of high-profile guests including Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees, and Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, attended a gala dinner hosted by Baku 2015.
Addressing the event, Hickey said: “This year’s theme in Davos is The New Global Context – a theme which is also reflective of the sports movement in 2015. Sport in Europe is not only embracing a New Context; it is helping to create a New Context – through the introduction of the European Games."
“Baku will stage a fantastic first edition. Azerbaijan is a nation emerging at a rapid pace, and with an abundance of natural resources combined with efficient management, it has become a remarkably dynamic state in just 23 years,” he said.
Being part of the European Olympic family has helped accelerate this development, Hickey said. “Sport occupies a special place in Azerbaijan’s society so Baku 2015 will be a new, exciting chapter in their sporting story,” he noted.
Minister Rahimov also addressed the event saying: “Hosting the Games in June this year is not just a single special event for us, but a part of our nation’s broader strategy."
“Under the leadership of the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, the development of sport has been one of our national priorities.”
A dinner banquet complemented an exhibition at the Davos InterContinental hotel devoted to showcasing Azerbaijan’s rich history and culture, and promoting the inaugural European Games. The guests first viewed the exhibition of bronze statues by Azerbaijani sculptors devoted to Baku-2015.
The show called “We Together” featured over 20 works on various types of sports. The guests were presented various publications of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation about Azerbaijan, including booklets on the first European Games.
As the biggest sporting event in Azerbaijan's history, Baku 2015 European Games will attract more than 6,000 athletes to represent 49 countries in 20 sports on June 12-28.
The Baku 2015 Games will take place in 21 stadia and facilities. The official opening ceremony of the Games will take place in the 68,000-seat Baku Olympic Stadium. The Athletes Village will accommodate up to 7,300 people.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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