The athletes include the likes of double Olympic silver medal winning wrestler Rovshan Bayramov and Mariya Stadnik, double olympic medallist in wrestling, as well as two-time national gymnastics champion Marina Durunda and double European Judo Championships medallist Elmar Gasimov.

Also selected are archer Sughra Mugabilzada, Nanjing Youth Olympic Games bronze medal winning long jumper Nazim Babayev, 3x3 basketballer Amil Hamzayev, cyclists Elgun Alizada and Murad Sultanov, London 2012 Olympic fencer Sabina Mikina and volleyball star Jeyran Aliyeva.

"These athletes are some of the finest sportspeople in the country and they will prove to be excellent ambassadors for the European Games," said Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sport and Baku 2015 chief executive.

"We want them to help share the excitement surrounding Baku 2015 with the rest of the country, and I am sure their achievements will prove inspirational for young people all across Azerbaijan."

The athletes have been selected to represent their sport and their country, and will feature in marketing campaigns in the lead up to the Games as they help to promote next summer's event across Azerbaijan.

They will also feature at high-profile milestone events to celebrate Baku 2015 as the clock continues to count down to the spectacular Opening Ceremony on June 12 next year.

Double Olympic silver medal winning wrestler Rovshan Bayramov has been named as one of the 11 athlete ambassadors for the inaugural European Games ©Baku 2015



Chingiz Huseynzade, vice-president of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, said: "We are very proud to be working alongside the Baku 2015 on the ambassador programme.

"Baku 2015 is an incredible opportunity for our athletes to represent themselves, their sports and their country on a major international stage and the ambassador programme will help develop their careers immensely."

The Baku 2015 ambassador programme will also see notable ambassadors recruited to help raise awareness around the world about the European Games via international campaigns.

"The ambassador programme will see support for the inaugural European Games from medal hopefuls and high profile athletes from around Europe, so we are confident that it will be a success," said Simon Clegg, chief operating officer of Baku 2015.

"I would like to thank all of the Azerbaijani athletes for their support so far and we look forward to working with them to help promote Baku 2015 in the coming months."

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