The announcement comes amid the celebrations marking 100 days to go until the inaugural event, as the COP distributed information throughout the nation about the event and its mission.

Further details are set to be announced on March 18.

A total of 75 Portuguese athletes have secured their place at Baku 2015 across nine sports, but with qualification still open for badminton, judo, karate and taekwondo, the number could rise to close to 100.

"We have strong hopes of achieving important results," said José Garcia, Portugal's Chef de Mission for Baku 2015.

"We see the European Games as the most important multi-sport event of the year and want to be represented by the best Portuguese athletes in each of the sports we will compete.

"We are aware that 2015 is a very important year regarding Olympic Games qualification.

"In Baku, we can fight for places in Rio so we are focused in getting the best results and of course conquering the most number of medals we can."

Portugal's Chef de Mission for Baku 2015, José Garcia, says the COP views the European Games as the most important multi-sport event of the year ©COP




The 75 competing athletes comprises 15 gymnasts, 13 canoeists, 12 beach soccer players, eight swimmers, five road cyclists. six amateur boxers, six table tennis players, four shooters, four triathletes, a mountain biker and a BMX rider. 

Garcia has visited Baku on a couple of occasions and is extremely complimentary of the work done by the Games' Operation Committee.

"The athletes will find the best they can find in sporting events," he added. 

"Both the venues and the village are top infrastructures and all the professionals involved are top class, as we can see by the number of people hired from London 2012 - more than 200."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
March 2015: Children to be allowed to attend first European Games for free