The Games Academy was launched by the Baku 2015 European Games Operation Committee (BEGOC) and the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation in April.

It aims to develop the skills and Games knowledge of participants as well as supporting the development of university graduates through the Graduate Excellence Programme.

Of the first 45 to enrol on the programme, 38 come from host country Azerbaijan while seven come from countries across Europe - Croatia, Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.

"I am delighted to welcome the first participants of the Baku 2015 Graduate Excellence Programme to BEGOC to begin their training," said director of operational capability and readiness at Baku 2015, Gavin McAlpine.

"The programme has attracted large numbers of young people with high potential and I am confident that they will bring energy and innovative thinking to the organisation as we develop our plans for the first ever European Games."

The programme begins with three weeks of intensive training after which participants will move into roles working within the BEGOC.

They will be given responsibility for planning and delivering aspects of the inaugural European Games for up to one year, including gaining hands-on experience with roles at test events and during Games time, according to officials.

Officials say around 150 more graduates are expected to join the programme between August and October.

The intake will be made up of 150 students, who have graduated between 2011 and 2014 from universities in Azerbaijan and 49 from the countries of each participating National Olympic Committee at next year's European Games, which take place from June 12 to 28.

Participants on the Graduate Excellence Programme will be set to play important roles when the European Games in Baku get underway next year ©Baku 2015



One of the first participants on the programme, Narmin Mansurova from Azerbaijan, said: "The programme offers graduates from Azerbaijan a unique opportunity to gain experience of working in an international environment.

"I am sure that the skills and knowledge which I, and the other Azerbaijani graduates develop, will assist our nation's capability to host future major international events."

The programme is drawing on support from leading academic institutions including the International Academy of Sports Science and Technology based in Lausanne, Switzerland, ADA University in Baku, and the International Olympic Academy based in Athens, Greece, as well as American consultancy firm Broadstone.

Applications for remaining places on the programme are still being taken with the deadline running until August 1.

More information can be found here.

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