Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 18
By Sabina Ahmadova, Aygun Badalova - Trend:
First European games, that will be held in Baku in 2015, will be exciting event, member of United Kingdom Parliament, House of Commons, Sir Tony Baldry said in interview to Trend.
"I am sure the European Games will be really exciting here in Baku. And we are all looking forward to these games taking place," he said.
Member of Parliament for North Oxfordshire, Sir Tony Baldry has been MP since 1983. He was knighted for political and public services in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2012. He held various ministerial posts from 1990 until the last General Election, serving as Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1995-97.
Sir Bauldry was appointed Second Church Estates Commissioner in June 2010, with responsibility for answering questions in the House in a manner similar to questions to ministers on the work of the Church Commissioners.
"We saw the Olympic games in London. The games of this kind can be a fantastic festival of sport, they bring people together," member of United Kingdom Parliament, House of Commons, Sir Tony Baldry said.
He believes that Azerbaijan has demonstrated with Eurovision song contest that the country can well organize international events.
"Of course the more people come here, the more see Azerbaijan, the better," Sir Baldry stressed.
Rector of London Academy of Diplomacy Nabil Ayad, believes that holding the first ever European Games in Baku is a great success for Azerbaijan.
"It is not only about bringing people together, but it is also an exercise in image projection and reputation management," Ayad told Trend in an interview.
He said that Azerbaijan has shown the world its openness, its respect to people, its hospitality, adding that the country welcomes all countries' participation in the upcoming games.
"And I can say that the country is safe. We feel very safe here. We are less safe in London, but here we feel very safe," Ayad said.
Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place from 12 - 28 June 2015.
There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.
Baku was awarded the Games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012. The Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) will organize and run the Games in co-operation with the EOC.