Baku 2015 unveils commemorative stamps

/AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Baku 2015 European Games unveiled the first edition of six commemorative postage stamps to mark next summer’s inaugural event on November 20.

The colourful stamps are unique artistic illustrations featuring six of the Baku 2015 venues, including the new National Stadium that will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as Athletics.

Other venues featured as follows: The Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Crystal Hall, Heydar Aliyev Arena, Baku Aquatics Center and the National Gymnastics Arena.

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Communication and High Technologies Iltimas Mammadov said: “These beautiful stamps showcase just some parts of the world-class venues that will host elite sport in Baku next summer.

“They will become popular all over Azerbaijan as memories of the spectacular summer of sport that will unite Europe in a celebration,” he added.

Each stamp has the value of 60 qepik, and there will be a second edition next year featuring illustrations of all 20 sports that will take place at Baku 2015. A third commemorative book featuring all 26 stamps together will also be released at a future date.

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sport and Chief Executive Officer of Baku 2015 Azad Rahimov said: “The stamps are a large part of collectable items that will be issued to mark the inaugural European Games.”

“I am sure that in years to come they will be remembered not only for their striking images of our spectacular venues but will also come to symbolise the entire country’s support for Baku 2015,” he stressed.

Baku will host the first European Games next summer from 12 – 28 June, involving more than 6,000 athletes from the National Olympic Committees of Europe across 17 days of competition, in what will be the largest sporting event in Azerbaijan’s history.