Azer Garib becomes Baku 2015 European Games celebrity ambassador

Mr Garib is a famous travel journalist and is the founder of the popular Azerbaijani TV travel programmes Oralar and 5 o’clock with Azer Garib.

With the addition of Mr Garib, Baku 2015 now has a total of 14 celebrity ambassadors drawn from the world of music, television and entertainment.

Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s minister of youth and sports and chief executive officer of Baku 2015, said: "Our Baku 2015 celebrity ambassadors give us an excellent opportunity to promote the Games and further engage with the young people of Azerbaijan, and Azer Garib’s popularity will enhance our ability to achieve this.

"All of our ambassadors are already doing a fantastic job in promoting the first European Games and will continue to do so right up until the end of the Games.”

Mr Garib joins singers Tunzala Aghayeva, Roya, Miri Yusif, Eurovision winners Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal, comedians Bahram Baghirzade, Rafael and Joshqun, and Tahir and Jabir Imanov, and musician DJ Shock, as well as well-known presenters Murad Dadashov and Ilkin Hasani.

Mr Garib said: "Representing my country as a celebrity ambassador for the first European Games is a real honour for me and one of which I am very proud.

"I understand that encouraging and attracting more people to travel to Baku this summer is important to the success of the Games and I look forward to doing so in my role as an official ambassador.”

The celebrity ambassadors programme will allow Baku 2015 to reach a range of audiences in Azerbaijan and Europe, using the celebrities’ star appeal and popularity to share messages about the first European Games.

Participants will help to promote the Games by visiting venues, taking part in countdown events, supporting campaigns, and using their own social media channels to reach millions of followers.