Putin watching 2015 European Games’ opening ceremony in Baku

Russian President Vladimir Putin has come to Baku’s Olympic stadium where the opening ceremony of the first European Games is underway. Putin is sitting beside Azerbaijan’s President Ilkham Aliyev and other leaders who arrived to Baku for this milestone sporting event.

Dimitris Papaioannou from Greece is the artistic director of the opening ceremony. He staged the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens as a creative director of the opening ceremony.

The flame for the European Games was lit in an old temple of fire-worshippers located near Baku on April 26 and was carried throughout the country. At least 1,000 people took part in the torch relay, covering a distance of 5,500 kilometres.
The stadium for 70,000 spectators was opened on March 6 and meets all the requirements of UEFA and FIFA. It is to host athletics competitions and the opening and closing ceremonies.

The First European Games will be held in Baku on June 12 to 28, with athletes competing for 253 sets of medals in 20 sports.