Olympic family members attend European Games reception

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady, Chairperson of the Baku 2015 First European Games Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva have hosted a reception for members of the Olympic family on the occasion of the Baku 2015 First European Games.

The head of state addressed the reception, noting that the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 European Games made a deep impression on all.

He said it was a chance for the guests of Azerbaijan to learn more about the country, its culture, music, and traditions.

“You can imagine the importance of this great sporting event for Azerbaijan - a young country, which is an independent for less than twenty-four years. This is a sporting event, event of friendship. To us it provides an opportunity to show our history, literature, music for Europeans. I am sure that after the Games more and more visitors and tourists will come from Europe to Azerbaijan, and Europeans will have more complete information about Azerbaijan," the president said.

President of the European Olympic Committees Patrick Hickey made a speech.

He expressed gratitude to the Head of State, the First Lady, the citizens of Azerbaijan, and all those who are involved in the Games for the hospitality.

“In the past few days I listen to my colleagues, and I understand that all sports facilities, they visited, are admirable,” Hickey noted.

He then presented a keepsake to the Head of State and the First Lady commemorating the historic European Games.

The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials of the EOC, members of the Executive Committee of the EOC from Turkey, Russia, Great Britain, Spain, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Germany and Israel, as well as other well-known representatives of the sports community, influential sports figures, and world-class athletes.

The Baku 2015 European Games that opened in the Azerbaijani capital on June 12 is an innovative event. The Games gathered over 6,000 athletes from around Europe to participate in 20 sports, 16 of which are Olympic and 12 of which are qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.