As Baku prepares to host the inaugural European Games in 2015, The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) is organising a new photography competition entitled Azerbaijan – Sport in Focus.

TEAS is honoured to announce that Baku 2015 – the organiser of the European Games – is now officially supporting this photo competition. Aimed at both professional and amateur photographers, some outstanding prizes will be available. These include an expenses-paid trip to Baku, including a ticket for the full duration of the European Games; a long weekend in Baku and weekend pass to the Games; and an iPad and entry to the Games. If the winners of the competition are residing in Azerbaijan, they can select from expenses-paid trips to either Berlin, Brussels, Istanbul, London or Paris. The jury will comprise internationally-renowned photographers Ed Kashi, Philipp Rathmer and Agdes Baghirzade.

The exhibition of selected entries will then tour the cities where TEAS has offices – London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Istanbul and Baku.

All types of photographs are welcome to be submitted – the scope is wide, and the photos can either be related to sports and Azerbaijan, the universality of sports, or what the European Games mean to the participants. We would like to see photos that reflect the spirit and value of sporting competitions.

For example, the photos could demonstrate the areas of Baku that are transforming in readiness for the European Games, Azerbaijani athletes in action, typical Azerbaijani sports, capture the sporting culture of the nation, demonstrate how other countries are preparing for the Games, depict international athletes competing to be selected for the European Games, the values of sports, or the sporting culture of nations. The photos do not need to have been taken in Azerbaijan, as long as they can illustrate the universality of sports.

For Terms and Conditions and further details, go to www.teas.eu/azerbaijan-sport-in-focus

European Games

From 12–28 June 2015, Baku, the Azerbaijani capital, will host the first ever European Games – held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee. The Games will bring together around 6000 athletes from 49 countries. Nine of the competitions will provide an opportunity to directly qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Great Britain will send 11 athletes to the Games. For more information, go to www.baku2015.com.

Jury members

Ed Kashi

The US photojournalist Ed Kashi has spent his 30-year-long career capturing the political and social problems of our age. A member of the VII Photographic Agency, he is acknowledged for applying the complexity of visual language to surmount linguistic and perceived cultural barriers to represent the human condition. Amongst other awards, Ed won the World Press Photo 2011 prize; and in 2010 won the UNICEF Photo of the Year award and the Prix Pictet. His books include Ageing in America: The Years Ahead and When the Borders Bleed: Struggle of the Kurds, which was a collaboration with Christopher Hitchens.

Website: www.edkashi.com

Philipp Rathmer

Born in Düsseldorf, Philipp Rathmer is an internationally-recognised photographer who has worked in fashion, lifestyle and advertising photography. He is now based in Hamburg, and his clients include Vodafone, Nivea, Mercedes-Benz, Sony and Wella. Philipp has also captured images of some of the most recognisable celebrities of the past 20 years, such as Lady Gaga, Luciano Pavarotti, Jay Z, Michael Schumacher, Sophia Loren and Eva Green.

Website: www.philipprathmer.de

Agdes Baghirzade

Baku-born Agdes Baghirzade is known for the quality of her portraiture, understanding of her subjects and fascination with nature. For the past decade, her works have been exhibited in many countries, including the US, Russia, Turkey, Italy and Spain. She received the award for the Best Photograph of 2005 from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism. In 2012, her personal exhibition The Other Side of Me was presented at the Zamenhof Gallery in Milan.

Bakudaily.Az