Baku 2015 presented at Doha GOALS

/AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Baku 2015 European Games Chief Operating Officer Simon Clegg participated at the 'Sports for the Masses' panel debate at the Doha GOALS forum in Doha, Qatar, on November 4.

The debate, focused on promoting mass events as a vehicle for building a sporting culture and spreading sport into new areas, was chaired by Olympic triple jump champion and world record holder Jonathan Edwards, and involved a number of experts from sport world.

Baku will host the inaugural European Games next June, involving more than 6,000 athletes from the National Olympic Committees of Europe. The 17-day competition is expected to be the largest sporting event in Azerbaijan's history.

Clegg said: "Doha GOALS offers us an excellent opportunity to promote the first ever European Games, the city of Baku, and the country of Azerbaijan to the rest of the world."

"We want the games to contribute to the wealthy history of Azerbaijan as it continues to look forward to creating a reputation as a dynamic destination in a modern and inclusive Europe," he noted.

The forum, which runs on November 3-5, is an initiative aimed to promote the role of sport in social and economic changes around the world.

"A vital part of the works we are doing is to build the human legacy being created as our team of experienced international staff works alongside Azerbaijani staff and share their expertise," Clegg added.

"I have no doubt that the staff is currently honing their talents within the Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee will take their experience forward to organize and manage many more future events to the required high standards that will impress the watching world," he stressed.

Baku 2015 will be not only a significant moment in Azerbaijan's history, but also a new chapter in the proud history of European sport that will unify the whole continent in celebration, Clegg summarized.

Doha GOALS - Gathering of All Leaders in Sport - was founded under the patronage of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in January 2012.

Other topics on this year's agenda include confronting racism and discrimination in sport, ethics in global sport, and changing the perception of women in sport.