“I was able to visit Baku on several occasions and meet directly with progress of organizational preparations,” said Simonovic. “I was impressed by what I saw.”
He added that it is also inevitable to recognize the tremendous energy that Azerbaijan invests in the development and promotion of sports.
Simonovic further went on to add that all the other continents already have their own continental games, which occupy a very important position at the world sports stage.
“The First European Games represent for us, as well as for the most European countries, a real competitive challenge,” he added.
He also recalled that the EOC President Patrick Hickey said during a recent visit to Baku that the city is fully prepared to host an unforgettable event and athletes and fans will be delighted with the high standards of sports and related facilities.
Simonovic also said that in terms of sports traditions Azerbaijan and Montenegro are similar.
“In terms of sports tradition and achievements, in case of Azerbaijan we recognize similarities with Montenegro - a country which sport results and performances have far exceeded its size,” he said.
“Trophy tradition, large support to sport development at the state level, investments in sports infrastructure, successful organization of a series of large and serious sports competitions, all these elements justifiably led to assigning the hosting of the first continental games to your country,” Simonovic further said.
He added that Montenegro intends to send to the Baku 2015 First European Games its best athletes to compete, who will worthily represent the talent and potential of the country in terms of sports.
“Montenegrin delegation will have close to 90 members, and 56 athletes will participate in water polo, swimming, athletics, boxing, cycling, shooting, karate, judo, and taekwondo,” he said.
“Although a small country with 650,000 inhabitants, Montenegro always has great expectations for top results, but the Baku Games will also be a great opportunity for the promotion of our country to wider continental areas, as well as for deepening the already good cooperation with Azerbaijan,” Simonovic added.
Baku 2015 is the first-ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent that will take place on June 12-28, 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.
Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012.
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