Baku, 10th June 2014 – the Chef de Mission Seminar for the inaugural Baku 2015 European Games began this morning with Azeri Minister for Sport and Baku 2015 CEO Azad Rahimov, and EOC Coordination Commission Chair Spyros Capralos giving the delegates a warm welcome, and Baku 2015 COO Simon Clegg providing an overview of preparations for the event.
State representatives Nikki Efendi and Farhad Hajiyev then described the government engagement and volunteering programme, which aims to deliver 10,000 plus highly trained and motivated volunteers and involve the whole population in hosting the event.
Sports Director Pierce O’Callaghan followed with an overview of the sports competitions, at which over 6,000 athletes will compete in the first ever European Games, assisted by over 3,000 team officials.
The Baku 2015 European Games will include 19 sports, 9 of which are part of the Road to Rio 2016 Qualification, for a total of 29 disciplines, 24 of which are Olympic disciplines. During the 17 days the event will last, there will be a total of 239 medal events.
Later today the delegates will be taken for a tour of the truly impressive venues, now well on the way to completion, and will be hosted for lunch at the Village, where they will be able to see the incredibly high standard of accommodation for their athletes.
The Seminar will continue Wednesday and Thursday, covering all of the event’s organisational aspects, including broadcasting, NOC Services, accreditation, transport and logistics, the Village, catering, rate cards, security, medical, ticketing and ceremonies, and will conclude with a Gala Dinner on 12th June with celebrations for One Year to Go to the Opening Ceremony.
