Baku 2015 also joined the people of Azerbaijan in celebrating the spring equinox festival of Novruz with a series of activities on the Boulevard in Baku, during which Mr Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports and Chief Executive Officer of Baku 2015, presented President Aliyev with a ticket purchase confirmation from the first online sale.

The public are also able to buy tickets on www.baku2015.com/tickets, and there is expected to be great demand for seats at the 20 sports which will feature at the European Games, as well as the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

It was the perfect start to Baku 2015’s Novruz celebrations as the President, First Lady and Minister of Youth and Sports were also able to enjoy some of the stands on the Boulevard showcasing many of the sports included in the programme for the Games, to be held from 12-28 June.

The public also has the opportunity to learn about Baku 2015 sports and try them first-hand at the interactive demonstration stands. Four different sports will be featured per day on a rotating basis, from 14:00-16:00, during the next three days. 

Minister Rahimov said: "Novruz is a special time for the Azerbaijani people, and the celebrations this year will include the showcasing of the European Games – the biggest sporting event ever to be held in our country. The start of the festivities this year was made even more special by the presence of the President, the First Lady and their family.

"This was a great occasion, and the demonstrations allow the public to learn about the sports which will be held at our fantastic Baku 2015 venues this summer.”

Mr Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, was present when the President purchased his ticket, and said: "The ticket launch is one of the key milestones in the life of any major sporting event, and Baku 2015 is no different. Tickets have been affordably priced, at between 2 AZN and 5 AZN for sport competitions and from 20 AZN for the Opening Ceremony and 10 AZN for the Closing Ceremony, while children under 16 will enter free of charge at most venues.

"I have no doubt that the launch of ticket sales, together with the sporting demonstrations on the Boulevard, will increase the excitement that is already being felt in Baku as the Games approach.”

The state-of-the-art ticketing software system to enable Baku 2015 to sell tickets for the European Games has been provided by Official Supporter Tickethour.

Supporting the ticket launch will be a series of special Novruz concerts, displays and light shows over coming days. There will also be a Baku 2015 picture wall where members of the public can take photographs with the visiting Games Ambassadors.

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.

Twelve of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, 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.