Mr Cristóvão was given the Portuguese flag by the NOC’s Chef de Mission, José Garcia, to whom he will return it on 10 June when he arrives in Baku, in order for the flag to be used by the Portuguese delegation’s flag bearer at the Baku 2015 European Games Opening Ceremony on 12 June.
Mr Cristóvão said: "I made the proposal to the Portuguese Olympic Committee to carry the Portuguese flag to Baku to honor the Portuguese athletes who will compete in this Games. It has an indescribable meaning to me because the national flag is a symbol that has followed me since childhood and is a very strong feeling I have."
Mr Cristóvão was also presented with the electric bike that he will ride for almost 7,000 kilometres, and the President of the Olympic Committee of Portugal, José Manuel Constantino, handed him letters addressed to presidents of NOCs in the countries he will visit on his route to Baku. He will deliver the letters to the NOCs of Spain, France (Côte D’Azur office), Monaco, Italy, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as the EOC headquarters in Rome and the Olympic Museum in Thessaloniki, Greece.
These letters from the Portuguese NOC President and Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 Simon Clegg will encourage the other NOCs to participate in the European Games with their best athletes, thereby promoting the event throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
At the end of the ceremony, the new Mayor of the City of Lisbon, Fernando Medina, gave Mr Cristóvão a letter addressed to the Baku mayor, Hajibala Abutalybov.
Last year, Baku 2015 set an innovative challenge to develop a promotional strategy for the European Games, with invitations to the spectacular Opening Ceremony on offer for the best proposal. The winning idea was Bike to Baku. This idea has now been brought to life by the Portuguese National Olympic Committee in the form of Lisbon2Baku, which will see Mr Cristovão travel the breadth of the continent.
Mr Simon Clegg, said: “We are delighted to see the Bike to Baku idea come to life through the Lisbon2Baku initiative. Jorge’s journey will contribute to raising awareness of the inaugural European Games across the continent, and is a great example of the enthusiasm that Baku 2015 is inspiring amongst National Olympic Committees in Europe. We look forward to welcoming Jorge to Baku in June, and wish him the best of luck on his travels.”
The entire journey can be followed through the official website (www.lisboa2baku.com), as well as through social media (Facebook, YouTube and Flickr).
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