Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 13
Trend:
Executives from the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Baku 2015 attended the XIX Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand, to give an update on the progress being made towards delivering the inaugural European Games, according to the Baku 2015 European Games press release.
The event, held last weekend, involved representatives from the 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) around the world recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
Mr Chingiz Huseynzade, Vice President, and Ms Konul Nurullayeva, Head of International Relations at the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan attended the event together with Mr Simon Clegg, Baku 2015 Chief Operating Officer, and a team from Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC).
Speaking at the ANOC General Assembly, Ms Nurullayeva said: "Next year will see the proudest moment in Azerbaijan's sporting history to date when our nation hosts the inaugural European Games in the capital city, Baku.
"With the hard work of everyone at the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and our friends at Baku 2015, we will be ready to welcome the world next summer for what will be a celebration of friendship that will write a new chapter in the proud history of European sport."
Mr Clegg and the BEGOC team provided the Presidents and Secretary Generals of the European NOCs with an update on European and global broadcasting arrangements for the European Games.
They also gave an update on progress made in delivering the Games, including the latest developments in the sports programme and the successful hosting of the first three Baku 2015 test events.
Mr Clegg said: "We have learnt a number of important lessons from the test events to date, and our team will continue to progress with many more early next year to ensure all of the athletes receive the very best services and experience at the first ever European Games."
Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, ANOC was established in June 1979 and aims to consistently serve the needs of the 204 National Olympic Committees of the world for the benefit of the athletes and the entire Olympic Movement.
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.