Let people stand in opposition, but not against their country, their people, their morals or their beliefs.
Heydar Aliyev
Frst sitting of the Coordination Committee of the European Games to be held in Baku in 2015 takes place
The first sitting of the Coordination Committee of the European Games to be held in Baku in 2015 took place, April 30.
Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the first European Games, Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the sitting.
Before the sitting, Mehriban Aliyeva met with President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey and President of the Greek Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos.
At the meeting, it was noted that Azerbaijan has good potential and perfect experience to organize the first European Games at the highest level, and there was a strong team in Baku working hard on preparations for the European Games.
Then the sitting embarked on its work.
Chairing the sitting, Mehriban Aliyeva wished success to its work:
- We take pride in hosting the first European Games in Azerbaijan. We accept the decision of the European Olympic Committee as recognition of our country’s achievements in various spheres, including sport. I should note that the Government of Azerbaijan and people support this decision. We are very excited about our country’s role to be played in the history of the European Olympic family. We realize the responsibility we took on. And this, in turn, requires us to ensure that the first test was successful. We can assure you that Azerbaijan is ready to do its utmost to achieve this goal. For this reason, we are ready to benefit from the experiences of organizers of Olympic and regional games held previous years.
First, Mehriban Aliyeva touched upon different matters facing the Coordination Committee. The Chairperson of the Organising Committee told that readiness of required infrastructure, including the Olympic village, transfer of information, the strategy of working with mass media to cover the preparation for and holding of the Games, approval and completion of sport programme require special attention.
President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey noted that the fact that Mehriban Aliyeva, who is the President of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, is the chairperson of the European Games’ Organizing Committee is a guarantee that these games will be organized at the required level.
Foreign experts made their presentations in connection with holding the European Games. During the presentations, exchange of opinions were held on ceremonies and cultural programs to be organized, broadcasting and media strategies, working and construction plans.
Embarking then upon discussions, members of the European Olympic Committee said they would do their best to make sure that these Games are held at the highest level.
Thanking for suggestions, Mehriban Aliyeva said the European Games were first such experience for our country. Expressing a hope that these games would enter the Olympic family’s history as great achievement, Azerbaijan’s First Lady noted the ideas spoken at the sitting of the Coordination Committee would make their worthy contribution to the preparations works for the European Games.
Mehriban Aliyeva was presented a souvenir from the European Olympic Committee.
At the end, they were photographed.
