THE FINISHING STRAIGHT

The preparations for the first European Games, which will be held in Baku from 12 to 28 June, have entered the final stage. The construction and repairs of the stadiums and the accompanying infrastructure are coming to an end and the participating countries are already sending in their lists of athletes to the organizing committee.

As the countdown began to the last 100 days before the start of the games, there was also a presentation in Baku of the medals to be awarded to the continent's top athletes. Unique images with the inscription "Baku-2015" are reflected on the gold, silver and bronze medals. The design of the medal with the "Baku-2015" logo in the centre is a metaphor for the host city with its dynamic, dazzling and rich culture. The reverse side of the medal depicts an emblem and the words "European Olympic Commit-tee".

The medals were designed by the same company that designed those for the Sochi Olympics last year and the winter Paralympics - the Adamas jewellery company, in cooperation with Azerbaijani artist Nargiz Huseynova. They were manufactured by the Azsuvenir company.

"The presentation of the artwork of the European Games medals, the countdown to the last 100 days before their start and the expectation of a successful performance by the top athletes of the continent is very exciting," Simon Clegg, the chief operating officer of the Baku-2015 European Games Operation Committee, said.  

"Just over 90 days remain until the start of the Games and I am confident that these medals will inspire the athletes even more, as well as raise the public's interest in the Games during the countdown period," Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sport and chief executive officer of Baku-2015, Azad Rahimov, said.

The organizers of the European Games also revealed the prices of tickets for spectators who wish to attend the Games in person. The price for adults will vary from 2 to 5 ma-nats depending on the state of competition and the seating category. Children and teenagers up to 16 years of age will be able to attend free of charge if accompanied by an adult (over 18) with proof of identity and a ticket. The exception will be the events in the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Concert Complex and the National Gymnastics Arena, where the price of tickets for children under 16 will be one manat. The price of a ticket for the opening ceremony will be 10 manats. Tickets will be on sale from 19 March.

The Baku-2015 operations committee has also signed an agreement with the Polsat TV channel to transmit the first European Games in Poland.

The Polish TV channel has agreed to broadcast the competition six hours a day and to cover the most important events. The channel will also organize the relay of the opening and closing ceremonies from Baku.

"The European Games are a most important event in the world of sport. The games will enable at least 12 sports to be qualified as Olympic sports. The participation of Polish athletes will give them an opportunity to compete at the highest level and the relay of the competition by the Polsat TV channel is excellent news," the President of Poland's National Olympic Committee, Andrzey Krasnicki, said. 

Just before the start of the countdown to the last 100 days before Baku-2015 it was also learnt that Katie Taylor, the Irish Olympic boxing champion, would be the international ambassador of the first European Games.

The winner of the London Olympics in 2012 is regarded as the most decorated athlete with the highest number of awards in the history of women's boxing. The five-times word champion and six-times European champion has 17 gold medals.

As well as directly representing their country in the competitions, the Baku-2015 ambassadors will also take part in promotion and marketing campaigns for the inaugural European games. Joining Katie Taylor as international ambassadors are the British Taekwondo athlete Jade Jones, the French artistic gymnast Ksenia Mustafayeva, the Danish canoeist Rene Holten Poulsen and the Serbian basketball players Dusan Domovic Bulut, Marko Savic, Marko Zdero and Dejan Majstorovic. The names of a number of ambassadors will shortly be published.

The rehearsals for the opening ceremony of the first European Games will also begin in the next few days. A grand show featuring 6,000 volunteers will demonstrate Azerbaijan's greatest achievements in culture, the arts and sport. The opening ceremony itself will take place at 2000 on 12 June.