On the picture First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan – Picture by Baku 2015.
By Luca Bücken & Baron Henri Estramant.
The inaugural edition of the European Games was held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan between 12 and 18 June 2015. More than 6,000 athletes, representing the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of 50 countries, competed in 20 different disciplines.
The decision to hold the European Games in Azerbaijan was made at the 41st European Olympic Committee General Assembly held at Rome in December 2012 where Baku was the sole bidder.
HE President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan heavily invested in the success of the games, including state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure, new stadium and sport facilities.
Furthermore no expense was spare for the opening ceremony which featured a concert of Lady Gaga as well as 2,000 performers in a setting of 2,000 lighting fixtures and 800 speakers.
Likewise, the country’s first lady, Mehriban Aliyeva and its Minister of Youth and Sport, Azad Rahimov, were a driving forces behind the project Baku 2015.
The opening ceremony of the I European games was enriched with the participation of 35 heads of state and government, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, President Aleksander Lukashenko of Belarus, HRH The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri I, HSH The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, Albert II, Prime Minster Boyko Borisov of Bulgaria or Prime Minister Victor Ponta of Romania.
In the Benelux countries Azerbaijan is represented by three diplomatic missions. One to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg headed by HE Ambassador Fuad Isgandarov.
There is a second mission based in Brussels accredited to NATO led by HE Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim as well as a mission to The Netherlands and towards the OPCW headed by HE Ambassador Mir-Hamza Efendiyev.
For more information:
Presidency of Azerbaijan: http://en.president.az
First Lady of Azerbaijan: www.mehriban-aliyeva.org/az/main
I European Games: www.baku2015.com
Heydar Aliyev Foundation: www.heydar-aliyev-foundation.org/en/content/index/47/
Mission of Azerbaijan to the EU, Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg: www.azembassy.be
