“Day of Azerbaijan” has been held on February 8 within the framework of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
The event was attended by the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach, President of the European Olympic Committee (EOC), Patrick Hickey, heads of national Olympic committees of the participating countries of the Sochi Olympics and other officials.
Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov, opening the event, said that sport and the Olympic movement in Azerbaijan acquired widespread, the country successfully receives international sporting events. The Minister spoke about the preparations for the first European Games, noting that "Baku -2015” will take place at a high level.
IOC president Thomas Bach said that Azerbaijan is known worldwide as a sport country has accumulated in this field and a good experience which has made a worthy contribution to the Olympic Movement. T. Bach stressed that Azerbaijan will be remembered as a country that has adopted the first European Games.
EOC President Patrick Hickey noted that the preparatory work for the first European Games in Baku maintained at a high level. He praised the country was created in sports infrastructure, expressed satisfaction with the preparations for the upcoming games.
APA