EOC Senior Games Consultant Mr Guido de Bondt and Secretary General of NOC Ireland Mr Dermot Henihan were taken on a tour of the site and updated on renovation work on the existing venue. 

"We are impressed with the progress being made on the facilities here at Mingachevir, which are sure to satisfy every aspect of the athletes’ needs and allow them to perform at their highest levels during the Games. 

"Despite the tight timeframe which Baku 2015 was given to deliver the first European Games, we are confident that their detailed planning and hard work will ensure that this venue is completed on schedule and to the highest standard.”

Mingachevir, known as the City of Lights, is a riverside city located some 250 kilometres from Baku, and is home to the Azerbaijan Canoe Sprint and Rowing teams. The existing facility is undergoing extensive upgrading to meet the elite-level standards required by the European Games. 

Competitions at Mingachevir will take place over three days between 14-16 June, and will feature more than 350 athletes across 12 Kayak events (men’s and women’s) and three Canoe events (men’s only).