Baku, Azerbaijan, June 5
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
The First European Games in Baku is an important event, which will be inscribed into Azerbaijan's history, said the Azerbaijani president's aide for public and political affairs, Ali Hasanov, on June 5.
He was addressing a meeting with the heads of the media outlets of Azerbaijan.
"The start of the history of European games in Azerbaijan is a very important event," said Hasanov, adding that the Baku 2015 European Games is a great success of Azerbaijan.
Hasanov went on to add that some people even don't want to recognize Azerbaijan as a European state.
"Some Europeans, ill with Islamophobia, perceive the ascension of a Muslim state as a great tragedy, they are jealous of the dynamic development of the Muslim peoples," he said.
"We have to show them an example," said Hasanov. "Muslim states, such as Azerbaijan, don't lag behind your most exemplary states professing other religions."
Baku 2015 is the first-ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent that 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.