Azerbaijan to host first European Games 2015 in Baku

Azerbaijan will be hosting the First European Games in Baku next year, according to the country’s embassy here. Azerbaijan is on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. To the north it borders the Russian Federation, in the northwest Georgia, in the west Armenia, and in the south Iran.
Rasim Rzayev, Azerbaijan ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said that Baku 2015 European Games, the first-ever major multi-sport event for the entire continent, will be a celebration of elite sport in the capital city of Azerbaijan, a modern and dynamic European destination.
Accoring to him, the European Games will bring together more than 6,000 of the continent’s finest athletes over 17 days of competition, in an exciting range of traditional and innovative sports.
He said, the competition will feature a total of 20 sports: 16 Olympic and four non-Olympic sports. The European Olympic Committees (EOC) dreamed of a creating a major multi-sport event that was challenging, innovative and modern.
’Baku 2015 is that dream becoming a reality. Alongside traditional sports such as Athletics, Aquatics and Gymnastics, exciting new sports such as 3x3 Basketball, Beach Soccer and Karate will also be showcased’ the envoy added
A diverse sports program has been created to ensure every day of competition is inspiring, groundbreaking and breathtaking. And with 245 gold medals to be won, competition will be intense for the honor to be called the first ever European Champion.
He said, one of the world’s most ancient nations — the nation of Azerbaijan — has the right to feel proud for its history, material and cultural monuments, literature, arts and music heritage. The lovely nature of these places, numerous ancient relics, wonderful ethnographical variety and astonishing skills of the local craftsmen will leave an unforgettable impression of Azerbaijan at its guests.
Referring to his country’s geographical location, he said, Azerbaijan and its unique nature, its centuries-old culture and history, and of the ancient people inhabiting this land, his life, customs and traditions which absorbed the elements of various cultures and civilizations.
Half the country is covered by mountains with a dry climate and semiarid in the steppes in the middle and eastern parts, subtropical in the southeast, cold in the high mountains in the north and temperate on the Caspian coast. The capital, Baku, is on the Absheron peninsula on the Caspian Sea and has the largest port. Azerbaijan is a territory of nine out of 11 of the world’s climatic zones.
“Climate of our country enables to organize summer and winter holidays. Very common are ecological tours to Azerbaijan, which include visits to nature reservations, trekking and climbing routes”. He said adding, Midday sandy beaches offer opportunities for diving, and swimming season starts in Azerbaijan in May. Tourism sector in Azerbaijan is developing day by day, becoming one of the most important sectors of the economy.
The envoy added: Azeris first refer to its natural resources. Oil is at the top of the list, on the turn of the 20th century Baku becomes the oil center of the world. Businessmen from all over the world come here. Oil has turned once provincial town of Baku into one of the nicest cities of Europe.