On April 3, the 3rd Sitting of the Baku-2015 European Games Coordinating Committee took place. Azerbaijan's First Lady, Chairperson of the European Games' Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the Sitting. Before the Sitting, a meeting took place between Mehriban Aliyeva and President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey. Partnership relations, preparation for the European Games to be held in Baku and other matters were the subject of discussion at the meeting. Then the 3rd Sitting of the Coordinating Committee commenced. Addressing the Sitting, Mehriban Aliyeva once more congratulated Patrick Hickey on his re-election as the president of the European Olympic Committee. Saying that "Our relations with the European Olympic Committee have been built on a solid basis", Mehriban Aliyeva mentioned that Azerbaijan has repeatedly hosted international competitions, and that recommendations of the European Olympic Committee have been of significant importance to holding of these games: "It is our primary and common goal to hold the 1st European Games at the highest level. Azerbaijan is determined to make sure that these games are as spectacular as Summer Olympic Games. The sports infrastructure created in the country will allow Azerbaijan to hold these games at the highest level. The pace and level of works in construction of the Water Sport Palace, National Gymnastics Arena, Baku Equestrian Centre, Baku Olympic Stadium and other facilities, and major reconstruction of existing sport facilities show that the preparation works will be completed on time. The National Gymnastics Arena is almost ready. We are planning to hold the European Championship on Rhythmic Gymnastics here in June this year. All sports facilities, as well as equipment installed there will be commissioned after they are tested and their full readiness to operation is ascertained. Our State has been extremely attentive towards the preparation for the Games. Our nation, the residents of the capital and Azerbaijan's sport society in particular, are, with great interest, watching the preparation works. I believe this support will be fruitful for us. We'll do our utmost to make sure that the European Games to be held in 2015 in Baku are a new standard in this sphere." Patrick Hickey highly appreciated the works carried out in connection with preparation for the Games under Mehriban Aliyeva's leadership. Saying that the Coordinating Committee has done a great deal of work since the second sitting held in October last year, Patrick Hickey emphasized that these Games - drawing attention with their historical significance - are of a license nature for the Summer Olympic Games to be held in 2016 in Brazil. Noting that financial and technical matters were solved at the highest level, the President of the European Olympic Committee underscored the significance of propaganda works. Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee, President of the Greek Olympic Committee Spiros Kapralos, Minister of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan Azad Rahimov, Chief Executive Director of the Baku-2015 European Games Operations Committee Jim Scherr, its Sports Director Pierre Okalagan, Director for Sport Services and Operations James Macleod too delivered a speech at the Sitting. The matter concerning the propaganda materials for the European Games were the focus of attention.

• published: 05 Apr 2014
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