Azerbaijan’s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Chairperson of the European Games Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva, State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, famous athletes, Vladislav Tretiak, Irina Rodnina, Anatoly Karpov, businessman Alisher Usmanov, the head of VTB Andrey Kostin and other prominent politicians, businessmen figures of culture and art attended the ceremony, held in the Radisson Royal Hotel, APA’s Moscow bureau reports.
The guests have also viewed the exhibition reflecting Azerbaijani culture, history and traditions. Then the official part of the ceremony has started. Azerbaijan’s First Lady, Chairperson of the European Games Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the ceremony: "I am happy that we can present the Games in the capital of friendly Russia. The relations between two states have been built on the strong historical fundaments. Within decades humanitarian, cultural relations enclosed our relations. These relations have established favourable climate for the development of bilateral political and economic relations. Today’s Russian-Azerbaijani relations are a good example for the friendly and neighbor states, established on the basis of mutual respect. Our cooperation covers all the fields of the public life - economic, political and humanitarian fields. President of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Baku in the summer of 2013 has given new impulse to these relations. Regular mutual visits of government delegations, led by prominent state figures, contributed friendly relations between two states. Thank you for your activity to strengthen ties between Russia and Azerbaijan."
Mehriban Aliyeva speaking about the work of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia noted that the organization unites Azerbaijani youth residing and studying in Russia: “Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia helps them to integrate into Russian society."
Mehriban Aliyeva also spoke about the partnership between the Olympic Movement of Azerbaijan and Russia: “Taking the opportunity I would like to congratulate you once again on brilliantly organized Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014. Today support for sports is one of the priorities of state policy in Azerbaijan. We participate as an independent country in the Olympics since 1996 and we are proud of the results of our sportsmen. In the latest Olympics Games in London, our team won 10 medals, including 2 gold medals and took the 15th place among the European countries and the 30th place among all participant states. Last year in the Youth Olympic Games in China, our team, our young sportsmen won 12 medals, including 5 gold medals and took the 10th place among around 200 participant states. In Azerbaijan, a lot of attention is paid to the construction and modernization of sports infrastructure. Over the past 10 years more than 40 modern Olympic stadiums were built across the country. Our country has good experience of major international sporting events. Baku regularly hosts European and world championships in various sports. In short, all these factors and the rapid development of the country formed the basis for that decision of the European Olympic Committee to hold the first European Games in Baku."
Mehriban Aliyeva noted that all the sports infrastructure is built and the country is ready for the European Games: “Baku-2015 European Games will open a new page in the history of European sport. In the games 6,000 athletes will participate and they will compete in 20 sports. It is a great honor and responsibility to conduct the first European games. Baku-2015 will set the standard for all future European games. I am sure the European Games will be held at the same level with the summer Olympic Games.Now, 2 months before the European games our entire team is focused on the final preparations. But today I can say that Azerbaijan is ready to receive the whole of Europe. I'm sure that the first European Games will be held in a spirit of solidarity, unity, and fair competition. On this occasion, dear friends, I want to invite all of you to come to Baku and support athletes. "
Then the President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov addressed at the ceremony. He noted that the Olympic Committee has made an important and correct decision - Europe needed its own games: "It is remarkable that European Games will be held in the magnificent Baku. It is really a very correct decision, we know how the sport is loved in Azerbaijan, and we know that Baku held brilliantly a lot of major events and has a great experience. We know how sport has developed in Azerbaijan.” He also wished success to the Organizing Committee.
In the final the film devoted to the preparation of the European Games, sports arenas, where competition will be held in, was demonstrated.
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