Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

This year is considered to be significant for the European Olympic Committees in preparation for the inaugural European Games scheduled for 2015.

President of the European Olympic Committees and Member of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee, Patrick Hickey made the remark, noting that the year ahead will be important in preparing for this multi-sport event.

"The Games has the support of Azerbaijan's First Lady, Mehriban Aliyeva, who is Chair of the Organizing Committee, and Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports, Azad Rahimov," Hickey said in his New Year message.

"The Organizing Committee has 18 months to deliver what promises to be a world-class event and I am confident Baku 2015 will make huge strides this year," he said.

The EOC Coordination Commission, led by President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Spyros Capralos, will be on hand to support the committee throughout their preparations and ensure that Baku 2015 gives the European Games concept a fantastic lift-off, Hickey believes.

The Coordination Commission's next visit to Baku is scheduled for April 3-4 this year.

The first European Games will gather more than 5,400 athletes from all the 49 Olympic nations of Europe to compete in 18 sports, including new formats and disciplines featuring for the first time at a major European sports event, such as basketball 3x3.

The games will start on June 12, 2015.