#Baku2015 European Games hosts National Federations Forum

National Federations Forum

Baku 2015 European Games has hosted representatives from the Azerbaijani sport federations whose athletes will compete at next summer’s historic sporting event.

More than 50 members from the national federations of 19 of the 20 sports on the inaugural European Games programme attended the forum at the Baku 2015 headquarters.

The federation members were given updates on Games preparations and information around expected Games-time roles and operations from a number of Baku 2015 directorates including Accreditation, Press Operations, Transport and Workforce.

Mr Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer at Baku 2015, said:  “Events like this are important as they enable us to share information with the national federations to aid their preparations for the first ever European Games.

“Baku 2015 will offer Azerbaijani athletes the opportunity to make history and become the first ever European Games champion in their home country.

“I am sure that competing at a home Games in front of thousands of adoring fans will be a special moment for all the Azerbaijani athletes and I wish them well in their preparations as we count down to the Games.”

Mr Pierce O’Callaghan, Director of Sport at Baku 2015, added: “I am delighted that so many members of the national sport federations were able to attend this event and receive an update on the progress we have made in preparation for next year’s historic event.

“The European Games will be a fantastic celebration of sport in Baku involving Europe’s best athletes and we are working hard to deliver an event of which the whole of Azerbaijan and Europe will be proud.”

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.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place from 12 – 28 June 2015.

There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.

Eleven of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Wrestling and Volleyball.

Baku was awarded the Games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012. The Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) will organise and run the Games in co-operation with the EOC.