SPORTS
`It is great honor for us that Azerbaijan`s first lady Mehriban Aliyeva will deliver presentation on Baku bid for 2020 Olympic Games
Baku, April 12 (AZERTAC). Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Lady of Azerbaijan, chief of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill ambassador, will head a seven-member top-level Baku 2020 delegation to the General Assembly of the Association of the National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in Moscow, Konul Nurullayeva, CEO of Baku 2020 said at April 11 briefing.
Mrs. Aliyeva, who is also President of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, is the final speaker in Baku 2020`s presentation to 1,000 delegates at the General Assembly. Konul Nurullayeva said, "because of the enormous importance of this coming gathering of the Olympic Family, we have the honor of presenting our bid together with Mehriban Aliyeva. Her presence in our delegation also confirms the total support of our country`s government - and she is coming to Moscow to represent our country`s population, an amazing 95 per cent of whom have expressed their support of our bid".
She added, "our vision to host the 2020 Games is clear: we want to prove that an Olympic Games is not only a sound investment in our nation's sport, healthy and quality of life, but that it can be hosted in a responsible manner which, in turn, provides a sustainable Games hosting model for the future".
Nurullayeva said the bid slogan Together We Can, "is not just about what hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games can do for Baku". It is "also about creating a partnership with the Olympic Movement. Our Applicant File offers the Movement a Games model based on true need; this means sustainable venues designed to remain in place, serving local and regional athletes. "Our model can show future potential host cities around the world that the Olympic Games are achievable, responsible investments for the future, illustrating how Olympism can be an incredible catalyst for transforming a society and its environment". Chairman of the Union of Azerbaijan Student Youth Organizations Shahin Ismayilov said “our citizens actively participate in a signature campaign.”
The delegation is comprised of the first deputy Prime-Minister Yagub Eyubov, Minister of youth and sports Azad Rahimov, Vice-president of the National Olympic Committee Chingiz Huseynzade, Secretary General of the Association of Football Federation of Azerbaijan Elkhan Mammadov and Director of communications “Baku-2020” Nargiz Birk-Petersen.