Closing Ceremony of Baku-2015 1st European Games takes place

On June 28, a closing ceremony of Baku-2015 1^st European Games took place.

The ceremony, which took place at the Baku Olympic Stadium, was attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady, Chairperson of Baku-2015 1^st European Games Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey, President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevnelieyev, and other officials.

Over 1600 volunteers were involved in the show organized at the closing ceremony. A creative group comprised of over 300 people from 28 countries and up to a thousand specialists in different spheres from 34 countries were involved in the ceremony’s organization.

Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the ceremony.

Then President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey took the floor:

- The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Ilham Aliyev.

The First Lady, Chairperson of Baku-2015 1^st European Games Mehriban Aliyeva.

Esteemed Guests.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Finally, every human who has shared this 17-day magnificent sports holiday with us. Thank you!

The spark lighting the European Games came from the Land of Fire.

Azerbaijan, you have been our sincere and hospitable host.

The Operations Committee of Baku-2015 1^st European Games under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva prepared very nice arenas in Europe for best men and women sportsmen. 

Accuracy of the activity corresponded to gold medal standards.

A team of new young heroes was formed by Your nice volunteers. 

All these were ensured in a matter of 30 months. 

The sports facilities you have created here will, in the coming years, serve your athletes, your people and youth. 

We thank all of you for the unity you have shown in the implementation of such a big project. You inspired your teams to the highest achievements. 

We thank international and European federations. You have approached these Games, this innovation with an open mind.  Together, we demonstrated that these all-round sports events of the contemporary time might meet demands and wishes of every city.

We thank European athletes. You have decently represented your countries, and the continent. Greatness of the Games is defined by high sport achievements. 

You have bestowed upon us a magnificent sports holiday. 

I hope you will remember these Games forever. You celebrated victories, learned a lesson from losses. After living, exercising together and competing against best sportsmen of Europe, you are ready to appear before the whole world at Rio-2016 Olympic Games. 

Europe is a continent of diversity, great competition and sport. However, here, at the European Games, we got together with common belief and under a common flag:  marching towards the sport and Olympic ideals leads us to a space that unites us, not separate. This belief means that we – 50 countries of Europe – may be together every four years during two magnificent weeks.

They were the Games that all future European Games will rely on. Unconquerable and inspiring foundation of such an event was laid here. 

I am saying to the European Family and all our friends throughout the world with full confidence:

Azerbaijan has a bright future.

The European Games have a bright future.

Europe’s nice athletes have a bright future.

Now, with a feeling of gratitude, pride and great optimism, I declare the Baku-2015 1^st European Games closed.

Thank you, Baku!

Thank you, Azerbaijan!

X X X

After the speeches, a show devoted to the closing ceremony was demonstrated. Fireworks took place at the end of the show.