European National Olympic Committees Back Baku 2015 Games to be a Success
November 26, 2014
The Baku 2015 European Games will be the ideal proving ground for athletes ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, check according to senior figures at the leading National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Europe.
Top representatives from all 49 European NOCs gathered in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku, last weekend for the 43rd European Olympic Committees (EOC) General Assembly.
They received status updates from the Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC), confirming preparations for Europe’s inaugural continental multi-sport games are firmly on track.
Dr Thomas Bach (pictured), President of the International Olympic Committee, who attended the EOC General Assembly, said: “I am deeply impressed to see the development here in regard to sport.
“What I have seen and heard about the preparations for the Baku 2015 European Games makes me very confident they will be an outstanding success for European sport and also an outstanding success for Azerbaijan.”
Bill Sweeney, British Olympic Association CEO (pictured right) said: “Today’s venue tour has demonstrated that the European Games next year will not only be a huge success for the organisers, but will also benefit our athletes in a number of ways.
“For several sports there will be the prospect of direct qualification for Rio and for others it will be an important staging post on that journey. For many of our athletes it will be the first multi-sport experience in their young lives.
“They will gain vital experience of being immersed in this environment, living in an Athletes’ Village, working within an Organising Committee’s structures and being surrounded by thousands of other athletes from a myriad of different countries. In terms of Team GB, we are looking forward to it, treating it very seriously, and we will benefit hugely.”