Baku European Games 2015

[Azeri440]

Flag Square Cluster

National Gymnastics Arena

 

[rmi5]

 

[F-15I]

wow, great...

 

[Azeri440]

Aquatic Center

National Stadium

new highway beside the national stadium

Aquatic Center

Gymnastics Arena

Temporary Arenas

 

[jaunty]

My Iranian friend who has been to Baku many times tell me that it is a very beautiful city. Good luck!

 

[F-15I]

My Iranian friend who has been to Baku many times tell me that it is a very beautiful city. Good luck!

We are preparing to be the second Abu Dhabi

 

[atatwolf]

Looks amazing. Pearl of the Caspian sea and envy of the region.

 

[waz]

Very nice. Well done Azeri bros.

 

[rmi5]

Ilham Aliyev personally acquainted with preparations for European games
Tue 25 November 2014

The President gave relevant instructions.
On November 25 the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev inspected reconstruction and renovation works carried out in connection with the preparation for the forthcoming first European games.

To view the progress of reconstruction and renovation works carried out in preparation for the first European Games, President Ilham Aliyev visited a number of areas of the capital, interested in the progress of the projects, in the implementation of renovation and construction works, Oxu.Az reports with reference to the official website of the head of state.

The President also got acquainted with the ongoing work on the creation of road transport infrastructure in areas adjacent to the Baku Olympic Stadium, the territories in the central streets and avenues, with measures for improvement around the Palace of water sports in the village of Bail and progress of the work to create a variety of sports infrastructure.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave relevant instructions on the implementation of the work with high quality.

News.Az - Ilham Aliyev personally acquainted with preparations for European games

 

[rmi5]

Baku 2015 European Games unveils official mascots Jeyran and Nar (PHOTO)
25 NOVEMBER 2014

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.25
Trend:

Baku 2015 European Games has today unveiled Jeyran (gazelle) and Nar (pomegranate) as the exciting official mascots for the inaugural sporting event.

Inspired by Azerbaijani nature and heritage, Jeyran and Nar reflect both the country’s proud history and promising future. The pair will symbolize the first European Games around the world as they feature on branding to promote Baku 2015.

“We are extremely happy to introduce Jeyran and Nar to the world, and we hope that they will come to represent the excitement of the inaugural European Games,” said Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sport and Chief Executive Officer of Baku 2015.

“As symbols of Baku 2015, they will inspire, excite and entertain a new generation of sports fans in Azerbaijan and will be visible around the city and the country in the coming months.”

Jeyran will become the cultural ambassador of the Games, offering visitors a glimpse into Azeribaijan’s rich heritage. From high up in the Caucasus mountains to the shores of the Caspian Sea, Jeyran likes guiding visitors around the country and showing them all that Azerbaijan has to offer.

Jeyran, the Azerbaijani word for gazelle, is a symbol in the country of natural beauty, grace and purity. The gazelle is a protected species in Azerbaijan.

Nar is a sun loving, playful pomegranate who grew up outside of the city of Goychay. Full of life and energy, Nar loves participating in new sports and will be getting involved with the European Games action.

The pomegranate symbolizes unity in Azerbaijani folklore, and features heavily in the colorful Baku 2015 branding already displayed extensively around the city.

“Our mascots are important symbols of the inaugural European Games and we are delighted to be welcoming them to the Baku 2015 family,” said Simon Clegg, Baku 2015 Chief Operating Officer.

“Jeyran will be an elegant cultural ambassador for the Games and for the rich heritage of Azerbaijan. Nar represents the energy, enthusiasm and fun of the Games and will be seen explaining and getting involved with the sports at our venues.”

“We wanted to help bring the European Games to life in a playful and colorful way, and we hope that Jeyran and Nar will become popular across all of Azerbaijan as we look forward to hosting Europe’s elite athlete here at Baku 2015,” said Charlie Wijeratna, Baku 2015 Commercial Director.

“The mascots have started life as flat illustrations, but will soon be animated, and of course transformed in three dimensions to form a part of the merchandising of the European Games.”

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.


Baku 2015 European Games unveils official mascots Jeyran and Nar (PHOTO)

 

[rmi5]

HEYDAR ALIYEV ARENA

 

[rmi5]

TOFIG BAHRAMOV STADIUM PHOTO GALLERY

 

[rmi5]

You can see the schedule of the games from here:
Baku 2015 - Schedule

 

[xenon54 out]

HEYDAR ALIYEV ARENA

Wow that looks great.

 

[rmi5]

Azerbaijan is rich in many ways, from the warmth of its people to its biodiversity and cultural heritage.
A land of plentiful natural resources, centuries-old culture and deeply-engrained hospitality, Azerbaijan has always played a vital role in the Caspian and Caucasian regions. The country unites Eastern Europe and Western Asia, sharing its borders with its neighbours Iran and Turkey to the south, Russia to the north, Armenia to the west, and Georgia to the north-west.

Azerbaijan is the largest and most populated region in the South Caucasus, and is roughly the size of Austria. In July 2013, the population totalled 9,411,800, with around 50% under 30 years of age. Azerbaijani is the official state language, but many locals speak Russian and English, especially in the cities.

The currency in Azerbaijan is the Manat, which is approximately equal in value to the Euro. Azerbaijan enjoys a booming economy that achieved the second highest GDP growth in the world between 2000 and 2010. The boom is mainly driven by the rich oil and gas resources but a strong maritime tradition also exists thanks to its 456-kilometre long coastal border along the Caspian Sea. The economy is additionally supported by growing agriculture and tourism sectors, which the government is actively developing.

Once outside the cities, there are outstanding areas of natural beauty to be found, from waterfalls and inland lakes to national parks and wildlife reserves. Visitors with an adventurous spirit and an interest in archaeology can find Roman graffiti, fortresses, stone-age rock art, mausoleums, palaces, cave tombs and the famous fire temple. Sites of naturally-occurring fire were sacred to the earliest inhabitants of the country and continued to be of significance for many centuries. This can be seen in the name Azerbaijan, which derives from the words for fire and guardian. Thanks to rock fissures that allow natural gas to escape, perpetual flames can still be seen today at the site of Yanar Dag, or burning mountain.

The scenery, climate and natural resources of the country have had a great impact on the artistic thinking and creativity of the Azerbaijani people. Carpet-weaving, architecture, poetry, painting, sculpture, music and theatre have flourished here for thousands of years. Azerbaijani works of art can be found in some of the world’s major museums - the Victoria and Albert in London, the Louvre in Paris, and the Metropolitan Museum in New York, as well as collections in Vienna, Rome, Berlin, Istanbul, Tehran and Cairo.

Today, Azerbaijan is particularly active in the development of transport infrastructure and energy projects. It is a driving force behind the expansion of political and economic ties between Europe and Asia and has membership of numerous world forums, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. It also actively cooperates with the European Union, NATO and the International Monetary Fund.