Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 13
Trend:
Baku 2015 European Games, the biggest sporting event in Azerbaijan's history, today promoted the Canoe Sprint volunteer programme in Mingachevir, according to the Baku 2015 European Games press release.
Executives from the Baku 2015 team presented the European Games to encourage applicants to help at next summer's event and promote Azerbaijan to the world.
Officials from Azerbaijan's Ministry of Youth and Sports were also in attendance for the presentation and sports update at the Mingachevir Polytechnic Institute.
Mr Simon Clegg, Baku 2015 Chief Operating Officer, said: "The Baku 2015 volunteers are vital to making the inaugural European Games come alive by helping athletes, officials and spectators feel welcome.
"The European Games will be of benefit to the whole of Azerbaijan, and so it is extremely important for us to have local volunteers to help promote Mingachevir as a world-class sporting destination."
Mingachevir is famous for its water reservoirs and will host three days of competition, when 350 athletes will take to the water and compete for a gold medal. In total, there will be 12 Kayak events (men's and women's) and three Canoe events (men's only).
Mr William Louis-Marie, Baku 2015 Director of Communications, said: "The Canoe Sprint course at Mingachevir is a high-quality venue that has been refurbished to international standards that will be of lasting benefit to the region, as well as the entire country.
"We are very excited to be able to offer this unique opportunity to volunteer at the European Games here in Mingachevir and play an important part in this truly historic event."
Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) will recruit 12,000 volunteers to fill vital roles at next summer's event. Volunteers will have the opportunity to fill Games-time roles that include welcoming dignitaries and athletes, working at sporting events or providing assistance to members of the media.
Nar Mobile, Azerbaijan's fastest-growing mobile operator, are the official sponsors of the Baku 2015 European Games volunteer programme. Nar Mobile will also create an innovative new mobile application that will allow the 12,000 volunteers to keep up to date with all the latest European Games news.
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.
Eleven of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Wrestling and Volleyball.
Baku was awarded the Games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012. The Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) will organise and run the Games in co-operation with the EOC.