Baku 2015 European Games hosts final NOC Open Day session

The delegates also had the opportunity to visit and inspect the progress made at many of the Baku 2015 competition venues, including the newly-built National Stadium and European Games Park.
Mr Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, said: “Following on from last week’s EOC Coordination Commission visit, it was a pleasure to be able to welcome so many delegates from the NOCs of Europe to our final Baku 2015 NOC Open Day. “I am very proud to be able to show the excellent progress we have made since the second Open Day session in September last year, especially the construction of our spectacular venues which will host world-class sport this summer.”
As well as touring venues in Baku, the delegates had the opportunity to visit the Canoe Sprint facility in Mingachevir, which will hose the Canoe Sprint competition from 14 – 16 June.
Mr Peter Brüll, Chef de Mission for Finland, said: “We are very excited about the first European Games and are all looking forward to seeing what they bring. It is great for our athletes to be able to compete at a new event and enjoy different experiences.“
From what we have seen, the quality of the event is going to be a lot better than we had initially expected and a number of the plans seem to be on par with an Olympic Games, if not better. Because it is a smaller competition with fewer athletes than the Olympics, it seems the Baku 2015 organisers have been able to use the opportunity to really tailor the event to meet everyone’s needs.”
Mr James Macleod, Director of Athlete Services and Operations, added: “Our three NOC Open Days have given us an excellent opportunity to welcome all 50 NOCs of Europe to Baku and update them on our preparations. I am fully confident that all the NOCs will be delighted with the facilities on offer to their athletes and I am sure Baku 2015 will be an event that will live long in the memory of everyone involved.”
* source OC Baku 2015

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♦ 22-Jan-2015
Gymnastics at the first European Games in Baku
European Gymnastics will be one of the most attractive headline acts of the coming first EUROPEAN GAMES, which will take place from 12th to 28th June, 2015 in Baku (AZE). The European Union of Gymnastics (UEG) will feature alternatively six disciplines of its competition programme: Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Aerobic and Acrobatic Gymnastics. All competitions will take place under the dome of the National Gymnastics Arena (NGA), a venue exclusively dedicated to gymnastics and inaugurated in 2014.

Numerous media and journalists from all over the world are expected in Baku. In this respect, the UEG is pleased to inform you that all press operations scheduled in the NGA will be run under the responsibility of Philippe Silacci (photo, left),former Media Officer of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for many years. His experience and know-how acquired during numerous Olympic Games and World Championships will be highly valuable to assist the organisers and to offer the best welcome and working conditions to the media.

The first European Games
There will be a total of 20 expected sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic. More than 6’000 athletes from the National Olympic Committees of Europe will represent their nations during the 17 days of competition.
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.
* source (ueg)

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08-Jan-2015
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