All our natural riches belong to the people, and no one has the right to misuse them.
Heydar Aliyev
The first meeting of the Organizing Committee of the 1st European Games to be held in Baku
First meeting of the Organizing Committee of the 1st European Games to
be held in 2015 was held under the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s
chairmanship, February 2.
Chairperson of the Organizing Committee Mehriban
Aliyeva addressed the meeting.
First meeting of the Organizing Committee of the 1st European Games to be held in 2015 was held under the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s chairmanship, February 2.
Chairperson of the Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the meeting.
Address by Mehriban Aliyeva:
- Dear Mister President,
Respected participants of the Conference,
A decision was made at the 41st General Assembly of the European Olympic Committee, Rome, on December 8, 2012, to hold the 1st European Games in Azerbaijan. In a secret ballot, in which 48 of the European Olympic Committee’s 49 members took part, the decision to hold the 1st European Games in Baku was adopted with 38 countries for, 8 countries against and 2 countries neutral.
It is a historical event both for our country and the European Olympic movement as a whole that the 1st European Games will be held in Baku. Having become a leading state of the region, Azerbaijan’s rapid development, its position in the world society, existing public and political stability have assured the world society that our country may successfully host this respected event. The adoption of this decision is a high value given by the International and European Olympic Committee to numerous competitions, European and world championships held at the highest level in our republic, achievements made by our sportsmen at international competitions and, in general, works done in Azerbaijan in the sphere of sports.
This event, beyond any doubt, is another victory of Azerbaijan, our country, and Mister President, let me, first of all, to congratulate You on this victory and thank You very much on behalf of all members of the Organizing Committee for the confidence You have in us.
Relying on the experience we have gained from international events held in Azerbaijan, including European championships, Eurovision-2012 Song Contest, we will do our utmost to ensure that the 1st European Games are held at the highest level.
With Your permission, I would like to deliver to your attention the essential points regarding the preparation works for the 1st European Games to be held in Baku.
The 1st European Games are planned to be held in June-July, 2015. Participation of the European Olympic Committee’s member countries is expected in these Games. Based on an agreement reached with the European Olympic Committee, participation of up to 5000 sportsmen is expected in the competitions to be held in Baku; number of the official representatives will be approximately 1000. To cover the event, arrival of about 2000 representatives of world mass media to Baku is expected.
As per the preliminary agreement reached with the European Olympic Committee and the European Sport Federations, as a minimum, 12 of 28 Olympic sport types and 2 non-Olympic sport types will be included in the 1st European Olympic Games’ program. A letter of intention was received from European sport federations with regard to holding competitions on 17 Olympic types of sport. These sport types include wrestling, handball, volleyball, gymnastics, beach volleyball, boxing, judo, taekwondo, badminton, fencing, equestrian sport, bow-shooting, table tennis, swimming, diving, water polo and rugby football-7. Considering that the European Games will be held for the first time in the history, negotiations are continued with the European Olympic Committee on a number of issues, and the information we provided to you today may change later.
Negotiations are underway with the European Olympic Committee and the European Sport Federations with regard to 2 non-Olympic types of sport to be included in the program.
Esteemed Mister President,
Venues, where we may hold the competitions, have been determined in the initial phase of the preparation for the 1st European Games.
The competitions may be held at the Heydar Aliyev Sport Complex, the Tofik Bayramov Republican Stadium, Baku Crystal Hall, “Serhedchi” Sport Complex, Hand-played Games Palace, “8th Kilometer” Stadium, Shooting Stand and Baku Expo Centre. According to the plan, construction of the Olympic Stadium, Water Sport Centre and Gymnastics Complex will be completed before 2015, and these new sport complexes will also be used during the Games.
It is intended that the official opening and closing ceremonies of the 1st European Games be held in Baku, at the 65 thousand-seat Olympic Stadium being constructed near Boyukshor lake.
I would like to inform You of the preliminary proposals regarding the sport facilities, where competitions on various types of sport would be held.
Competitions on wrestling and judo sport types may be held at the 7100-seat Sport and Concert Complex named after Heydar Aliyev.
Competitions on handball and volleyball sport types may be held at Baku Crystal Hall, which can accommodate 25000 viewers.
Competitions on rugby football type may be held at the 11000-seat “8th Kilometer” Stadium.
Competitions on table tennis, fencing and taekwondo sport types may be held at Baku Expo Centre.
Competitions on boxing may be held at the 3250-seat “Serhedchi” Sport Complex, competitions on badminton at the 1628-seat Hand-played Games Palace and competitions on bow-shooting at the 7000-seat “Shafa” stadium.
Competitions on sport and artistic gymnastics during the 1st European Games may be held at the Gymnastics Complex.
Competitions on swimming and diving may be held at the Water Sport Centre being constructed in Baku. A temporary arena will be built near the centre to hold competitions on water polo.
In case competitions on athletics are held, the 31200-seat Tofik Bayramov Republican Stadium may be used.
To hold competitions on beach volleyball, construction of a temporary arena is required at the Seaside Boulevard.
Esteemed Mister President,
We have commenced negotiations, in connection with opening and closing ceremonies of the 1st European Games, with the world’s highly experienced leading companies in this field.
Works are underway towards determining the logotype and slogan, choosing the symbol and composing the anthem of the 1st European Games to enter the history of the European Games as the first attributes. An open logotype contest on “The 1st European Games” has already been announced.
In accordance with the Rules, medals to be presented to winners of the European Games will be prepared by the National Olympic Committee of a host-country and agreed with the European Olympic Committee. Proposals are being drafted currently in connection with the medals’ design.
A Village of Athletes will be created to accommodate sportsmen to participate in the Games.
Representatives of mass media will be accommodated in the Media Village. All necessary conditions will be created for them at a centre to be built on this territory and at the Media Centre at Baku Crystal Hall.
During the Games, June – July 2015, arrival of numerous guests – sportsmen, official delegations and tourists - to Baku is expected. Number of hotels existing in Baku and Absheron to accommodate the guests, and their capacity have been confirmed. In order to have more options, resting camps and newly constructed hotel complexes located closeby the city will also be utilized.
Worldwide promotion of the event and information support are one of the most important tasks facing us. As a first step, an Internet portal has been developed to provide comprehensive information about the Games. We have started a wide campaign on disseminating information about the 1st European Games in the world media and, in general, development of publications, adverts, banners and posters about Azerbaijan, in particular, our achievements in the sphere of sport. Attraction of Europe’s and the world mass media to the promotion campaign and perspectives of cooperation with them is under discussion.
Attraction of youth to holding of respected events has been widely employed worldwide. We have quite extensive experience in this field, and in organizational works for the 1st European Games too active indolent of volunteers has been provided for.
Broadcasting of the 1st European Games is of special importance. Negotiations are underway currently with relevant organizations with regard to granting the right to broadcast the event.
Works are underway towards attraction of international and local sponsors to holding of the Games.
It is of paramount importance that the city of Baku, which will host the European Games, is properly prepared for the Games. Proposals for improvement of the urban infrastructure, development of the transport system, provision of security, optimization of medical services, wide utilization of information and communication facilities and planning of tourism itineraries and cultural programs are being developed by responsible organizations.
In today’s conference, we discussed the information available with regard to the rules of Games and holding thereof, and basic directions of our activity. Now we are providing you the results of the monitoring conducted in connection with primary tasks, solution of which is important. Information displayed on the monitor is of generic nature.
A task force comprised of representatives of the relevant entities will be established in order to ensure that the Games are held at the highest level. Currently, development of an extensive actions plan covering all directions associated with the holding of Games and setting every entity’s duties is underway. In a short span of time you will be provided with these actions plan.
In conclusion, we would like to thank You for the great confidence You have in us, and please be assured that the 1st European Games to be held in Baku will remain as another victory of Yours and of every Azerbaijani in our country’s history.
Thank you for Your attention.