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Baku shows readiness to host European Games 2015

18 June 2014 15:33 (UTC+04:00)
Baku shows readiness to host European Games 2015

By Nigar Orujova

Chefs de Mission from across Europe visited Baku last week for a crucial seminar ahead of next year's inaugural European Games.

Officials from the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Europe were briefed on Games preparation and progress, took part in venue tours, and enjoyed a spectacular firework to celebrate One Year To Go to the first European Games on June 11.

A gala dinner at the stunning Buta Palace on 12 June marked the culmination of a busy and productive week for the Chefs, where they received official invitations to the Games from Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Executive of Baku 2015, Azad Rahimov and the President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Patrick Hickey.

Rahimov noted it was an honor to welcome the Chefs de Mission from all over Europe to Baku.

"The Seminar gave us the opportunity to show the NOCs the excellent progress we have made as an organization in recent months as we prepare to host these historic Games. Our commitment to the teams and athletes is unwavering and it was an important opportunity to demonstrate that to the Chefs de Mission," he said.

The Chefs de Mission had the opportunity to discuss the level of services being prepared by the Baku European Games Operation Committee (BEGOC) for their athletes. They have also visited the Athletes Village for the first time while it was in full operational mode, hosting competitors from the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, on June 13-15.

Patrick Hickey stressed the great success of the first ever European Games Chefs de Mission seminar.

"The meetings gave the EOC and BEGOC more insights needed to hold the most organized European Games for 2015 and set the highest standards for future editions," he added.

"Now that they have spent some time in the beautiful city of Baku, there is a real confidence amongst the NOCs of Europe that Baku 2015 will be innovative, technically excellent and - above all - a fantastic experience for NOCs and their teams," Hickey stressed.

Individual meetings of the Chefs de Mission were also held with the Baku 2015 NOC Services Team to address their questions and concerns.

"The Chefs de Mission Seminar gave us the perfect opportunity to connect with the NOCs of Europe and explain to them the service levels we have in place for the Games," James Macleod, Director of Athlete Services and Operations at Baku 2015, said.

"We are very satisfied with the feedback we have received from these Games experts and are confident that we have the correct plans in place to deliver a highly successful, athlete-focused event," he added.

Baku 2015, Europe's first senior multi-sport event, will gather more than 6,000 athletes from the 49 countries affiliated to the European Olympic Committees to compete in 19 sports in Azerbaijan's capital on June 12-28.

The Baku Games' program includes aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball 3x3, beach soccer, boxing, canoe sprint, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, judo, karate, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, and wrestling.

Nine sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics in 2016, which is supposed to attract more attention to the Games.

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