Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has visited the Olympics Stadium under construction for the historic first European Games in Baku next year, highlighting his personal commitment to Europe's first multi-sport event, and overseeing preparations for the Games.

President Aliyev inspected progress on the landmark 65,000 seat Main stadium, regarded as one of the most innovative and advanced sporting stadiums in the world currently under construction.

Aliyev said he was pleased with the rapid development of the stadium, which will welcome and bid farewell to athletes from across Europe in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Baku 2015 Games in June next year.

The stadium is one of 21 Games stadia and facilities described as among the most spectacular assembled for a major sporting event.

"We want to provide the best possible venues and theatres of sport for the finest athletes of Europe at the Baku Games," the president said.

Aliyev said he was impressed and inspired by the achievements of the athletes at the Sochi Games. "The magic and inspiration of athletes competing in spectacular venues unites people and inspires the youth, as we saw at Sochi."

The president's visit to the Main Stadium highlights the national and international significance for the Baku 2015 Games, which will feature athletes from all 49 Olympic nations of Europe.

The Azerbaijan Minister for Youth and Sport, Azad Rahimov, who accompanied the President to the stadium, said the Baku Games organisers were working closely with the European Olympic Committee and President Patrick Hickey to stage a memorable first European Games in Baku, which will also serve as a qualifying event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. 

"The Baku Games will feature innovative sporting formats, fields of play and settings that will help to keep Europe at the forefront of sporting excellence and innovation, and unite people across Europe in a passionate celebration of the athletes and sport," the Minister said.

ANN.Az