Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The second meeting of the Organizing Committee of the inaugural European Games due in 2015 was held in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on June 25.

Azerbaijani First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva attended the event.

In her remarks the First Lady said, "The first meeting was held on February 2 this year under the leadership of Mr. President. This fact, in itself, shows that the state pays much attention to the preparation and holding of the Games."

According to Aliyeva, over the time that has passed since the first meeting of the Organizing Committee, a number of preparatory works have been carried out.

"Measures have been taken to solve the tasks we are facing. At the same time, new challenges and new tasks are emerging," she said, voicing hope that all these issues would be discussed at the current meeting.

"Great responsibility is vested in the Organizing Committee ...We have to make sure that these games are prepared and conducted at the highest level. In general, it is the beginning of a new period in the history of the European sports movement, and Azerbaijan is the country that is writing the first pages of this history," Aliyeva said.

She emphasized that there are only two years for the preparations, more precisely, 98 weeks are left until the Games.

"That is why we have to work harder and do everything possible to carry out the tasks set forth by the state. I am confident that we will achieve that," Aliyeva said.

Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov presented a master plan of a village for athletes and spoke about the work carried out in the Olympic Village. He said all conditions for accommodation, nutrition and recreation of some 7,300 athletes will be created in the Olympic Village.

Rahimov said both local and foreign specialists are working on the issue. He said that since the first meeting of the Committee, 18 memoranda of understanding have been signed and the Games will feature 18 sports. Moreover, signing of memoranda on two more sports is expected.

The First Lady noted the importance of addressing infrastructure issues related to the preparations for the Games and said monitoring of sports facilities is underway.

Executive consultant of the working group of the European Games Doug Arnot briefed attendees on the planning process, noting that cooperation with media outlets will start next week.

Consultant for security of the Games, member of the working group on European Games, Peter Ashwin, said that during the planning of the Games, which will last 17 days, security issues will be addressed. He spoke about the creation of safety design and the implementation of the system of risk and control management of the new generation.

The meeting continued with the addresses of the chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Property Issues Kerem Hasanov, Minister of Transport Ziya Mammadov, Minister of National Security Eldar Mahmudov, Interior Minister Ramil Usubov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Ali Asadov and Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov.

Summarizing the results of the second meeting, Mehriban Aliyeva underscored the importance of a broad and close cooperation between relevant agencies. Noting that Azerbaijan is known as a sporting nation and hosts large-scale sports events, which have been highly assessed by international experts, Aliyeva expressed confidence that Azerbaijan will succeed in fulfilling the task of conducting the first European Games by arranging them at a high level.

The inaugural European Games will be held in Baku in June 2015. The Coordination Commission set up in January 2013 includes members of the National Olympic Committee, athletes and representatives of government agencies.