Aliyev and wife Aliyeva, chair of Baku 2015, were accompanied on their visit by Azad Rahimov, Minister of Youth and Sport and Baku 2015 chief executive, and Simon Clegg, Baku 2015 chief operating officer.

As part of the tour, the couple visited the Games Operations Support Centre, which centralises all Games-time functions in one location and aims to ensure efficient and coordinated decision-making.

The President and First Lady were welcomed by the entire Baku 2015 staff and participated in a Baku 2015 family photograph shoot.

One athlete looking to make an impact at the European Games is Irish boxer Katie Taylor, who is the reigning Olympic champion and arguably the most decorated fighter in the history of the women's game. 

The 28-year-old has won five consecutive World Championships, as well as six successive European Championships and five European Union Championships, and sees Baku 2015 as another opportunity to rubberstamp her dominance.

"We’re all there to win the gold medal but only one person walks out with a gold medal, and I plan to be that person," she said. 

"I want to be the best female boxer of all time."

The boxing competitions are scheduled to be held across 12 days, starting from June 16, at the Crystal Hall.

Comprised of 15 medal events, they will feature 330 male and female athletes from across Europe, although Taylor's principal under 60kg rival, Sofya Ochigava of Russia, will not be present.

"It’s always great to go into a country where they are very knowledgeable about the sport, and to have a really strong boxing team as well," added Taylor. 

"I know the atmosphere is going to be fantastic in the Crystal Hall."

Meanwhile, Baku 2015 has launched a social media competition to win two tickets to the Сlosing Сeremony of the European Games on June 28. 

Participants are encouraged to upload photos or videos holding a #baku2015 sign to their personal Instagram or Twitter accounts using #baku2015, #iloveazerbaijan and #biginbaku.

The Baku 2015 Ambassadors will then shortlist their favourite five on June 20 before the winner is chosen by the Azerbaijan public via a voting process on Baku 2015's Facebook page.

The competition runs until June 18 with the winner set to be announced on June 26. 


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