Decision to host European Games in Azerbaijan one of most wise decisions - president

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 18

Trend:

The decision to host the First European Games in Azerbaijan was a very wise decision, President Ilham Aliyev said while addressing the opening ceremony of the 3rd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku on May 18.

He reminded that the country is getting ready to host the games in less than one month.

"Though it is a big challenge to organize the games, but the decision of the European Olympic Committee to organize the games, first time in the world, in Azerbaijan - the country with Muslim population - was one of the wisest decisions of the recent past," he said.

The president said that Azerbaijan will bring together more than 6,000 European athletes, and the country is currently in the process of finalizing all the preparations for the event.

"These games are not only a big sports event, but also an event of friendship and partnership," Ilham Aliyev said. "And also, an opportunity for us to demonstrate our country and our hospitality."

Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place on June 12-28, 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 president went on to remind that Azerbaijan will also be hosting the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017.

"So in two years, one country, one city will host European and Islamic games," he said. "That will probably be the only case in the history of European sports."