The EOC Coordination Commission will receive updates from Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee directorates and visit competition and non-competition venues during their visit on 5-6 February.

Aliyeva said: "The Games will mark a historic moment for European sport, and for Azerbaijan it will be a milestone in our progress as an independent, forward-looking member of the European family.

"We accepted the honour and responsibility of staging these inaugural Games, and today and tomorrow you will see that your trust in us has not been misplaced.”

The Coordination Commission was also addressed by Mr Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports and Baku 2015 Chief Executive Officer, who gave an update on progress made since the Commission’s last visit in September 2014.

Rahimov said: "Though we are fully on schedule, we know that there is no time for complacency, and that each day counts in fine-tuning our preparations. 

"We are on track to deliver infrastructure worthy of sporting events of the highest calibre, and I am sure that this will be the case in Baku this summer when we host the first-ever European Games.”

Taking a route along the Baku 2015 Games Route Network, the Coordination Commission members visited the Baku Shooting Centre, Mountain Bike Velopark, Heydar Aliyev Arena, and a drive-by of the European Games Park. 

The tour concluded with the official opening of the Baku 2015 Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre (UDAC) by Minister Rahimov. All Flamekeepers – the successful applicants to the Baku 2015 volunteer programme which is supported by Nar Mobile – will register and collect their specially-designed uniforms from the new building prior to the Games.  

Spyros Capralos, chairman of the EOC Coordination Commission, said: "Seeing the progress of the world-class sports facilities on the venue tour and following the Games Route Network between venues has been invaluable for myself and my Commission. It was also a great experience to be present for the UDAC official opening.”

Simon Clegg, chief operating officer of Baku 2015, added: "We have been working non-stop to deliver world-class Games, and the EOC Coordination Commission’s visit is Baku 2015’s opportunity to share the results with Europe’s sporting community. It was a great pleasure to host the Coordination Commission members and familiarise them with the Baku 2015 venues and Games Route Network.”

Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place from 12 – 28 June 2015.

There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.

Eleven of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Volleyball and Wrestling.

Baku was awarded the Games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012. The Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) will organise and run the Games in cooperation with the EOC.