Simon Clegg Replaces Jim Scherr as COO of Baku 2015 European Games

The former Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association and Ipswich Town FC, Simon Clegg, has today been appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the Baku 2015 European Games Operating Committee (BEGOC). 

The Briton is due to take his new position on wednesday, following the recent departure of former Chief Operating Officer Jim Scherr.

Clegg’s previous experience includes managing Team GB athletes at 12 Olympic and Olympic Winter Games and working as chief executive of the 1995 European Youth Olympic Festival in Bath.

Simon Clegg said: “I am flattered to have been invited by the Minister of Youth and Sport to take up this new role within the Operating Committee. There is an outstanding existing team within BEGOC many of whom I have worked with over the last nine months and I know that together we can deliver an event which the Azerbaijani people, the European Olympic Family and most importantly the athletes of Europe can be proud of. Any inaugural event creates exciting opportunity to establish something different and our desire is to establish the European Games in Baku at the forefront of continental sporting events around the globe.”

Commenting on the appointment, Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sport and BEGOC’s Chief Executive said: “I am delighted that Simon has agreed to take up this new role. He has the right skill set and experience to lead the organisation as we move from a planning phase into operational delivery mode with just 14 months until the Opening Ceremony. We have enjoyed a close working relationship over the last nine months when he has been representing the European Olympic Committees and I have every confidence that together we will deliver a magnificent event for the best athletes in Europe.”

Patrick Hickey, the President of the European Olympic Committees added: “Simon has made a major contribution to the successful delivery of the inaugural European Games over the last nine months that he has been our Executive Director. His in-depth knowledge and understandings of the Organising Committee functions coupled with his leadership and management expertise made him an obvious choice for this new top position in European Sport.”

Europe’s first senior multi-sport event will consist of more than 6,000 athletes competing in 19 sports from the 49 countries affiliated to the European Olympic Committees (EOC).

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