A year has passed from the First European Games, the massive sport event organised in land of fire Baku, Azerbaijan.

The European Games is a multi-sport event for athletes from all over Europe and is held every four years. The Games are owned, organised and regulated by the European Olympic Committees.

The European Games were created at the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) on December 9th 2012 in Rome, Italy, when 84% of the National Olympic Committees of Europe voted for the creation of the European Games.

History was made in Azerbaijan’s capital in June 2015 as Baku played host to the inaugural European Games, which were awarded to the city by the EOC. Over 17 days of intense competition, Baku welcomed 6000 athletes from 50 countries for a colourful festival of elite sport that saw some of the world’s leading athletes rub shoulders with stars of tomorrow.

Today European Olympic Committee, especially National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan celebrates the significant challenge to host and successfully complete the Games.

“Baku 2015 was a landmark moment in European sport. It featured first-class athletes, with both world and Olympic champions competing, in a fascinating, thriving and young European capital.”

EOC President – Patrick Hickey

Events at Baku 2015 took place in 12 permanent and 6 temporary sport venues, located in four main clusters. The state-of-art facilities included the new Olympic Stadium, which hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and two days of Athletics. The stadium is new home for football team and will stage four matches during the finals of UEFA’s Euro 2020 championship.

The 12 venues to remain as part of the Games legacy for the city. Four others were also newly built: National Gymnastics Arena, BMX Velopark, Baku Aquatics Centre and Baku Shooting Centre. The six temporary venue for for the duration of Baku 2015 were the Water Polo Arena, Beach Arena, Basketball Arena, Mountain Bike Velopark. Other Games facilities included 10 training centres an 32 non-competition venues, including the brand-new Athletes Village will host for Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games.

With 200 days to go before the opening of the first European Games. The mascots were unveiled. Inspired by Azerbaijani nature and heritage, Jeyran the Gazelle and Nar the pomegranate reflected country’s history and its ambitions for the future.

“Sport has united us as one family. This is the most important outcome of the European Games”

First Lady of Azerbaijan – Mehriban Aliyeva

On April 26, the thorch of the European Games was lit in acient fire temple Ateshgah. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Chairperson of the Games Organizing Commitee Mehriban Aliyeva, president of European Olympic Commitee Patric Hickey and other officials attended the torch lighting ceremony. It traveled over 61 regions of Azerbaijan, visited European Games venues and was bought to the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony.

Tickets have sold out as the Olympic Stadium was ready to celebrate the culture and history of Azerbaijan with a once-in-lifetime showcase of entertainment and sport. The Olympic Stadium was transformed into a magical stage of artistry and performance, enchanting the audience, as well as viewer around the world.

The Opening Ceremony of the First European Games came to close and the first and historical page of the European Games was written.

In 17 days, across 20 sports in 18 venues, new heroes were born and older stars burned brightly. History was made and a marker was set as Baku welcomed the world in its own inimitable style.

The Games were broadcast in 145 countries. The opening ceremony alone was broadcast in 140 countries, the Games boasted more than 1,100 hours of broadcasting worldwide. The total audience of the Games was nearly 823 million people, with about five and six million people watching the competitions on the official website of the Games.

“Victory days” special event was arranged at the National Olympic Committee within the European Games dedicated to the Azerbaijan winners and prize-winners of the Games. Project included the meetings with our medalists, members of their families, friends sport experts and representatives of community. The winner athletes were awarded with NOC presents.

The doors of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee were open for those who supported athletes at the European Games, desired to share joy of successes, enjoyed live communication with winners and wished to be part of such historical events as the First European Games.

Following 17 days of sporting action and excitement, the inaugural European Games came to the end. Just as it had begun, Baku 2015 reached its climax in dazzling display of colour and light at the award – winning Olympic Stadium.

First Lady of Azerbaijan, Chair of the Baku 2015 European Games Organising Committee Mehriban Aliyeva was invited to the stage to deliver a speech:

“The First European Games have come to an end. The last 17 days were remarkable and unforgettable in the history of Azerbaijan. We are proud that the first European Games were held in our county. We proud that within only two and a half years Azerbaijan has turned its commitment into a reality and delivered a sporting event of the highest standard.

Over the last 17 days we witnessed unity, solidarity and friendship between European nations. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Republic of Azerbaijan, for their great support of the Games and the athletes.

The entire nation is proud of our athletes. They have won a total of 56 medals – including 21 gold medals – and finished second in the overall medals table. Athletes of Azerbaijan your success makes you a great example to the next generation.

…Azerbaijan opened its arms and its heart to Europe. We welcomed old friends and made new ones. This evening we say goodbye to you all. But we hope to see you back in Azerbaijan for future events.

…Tonight, we will extinguish the cauldron and bring the first European Games to a close. As the curtain falls on this celebration of sport and friendship, I’m overwhelmed by an enormous sense of pride in our country and our people. The past 17 days will live forever in our hearts. It will be unforgettable moment in our history the passes down through the generations.”