Visiting the European Youth Session at the International Olympic Academy (IOA) in Olympia, Baku 2015 executives set an innovative challenge to approximately 50 participants to develop a promotional strategy for the European Games, with invitations to next year's spectacular Opening Ceremony on offer to the winning team.

Teams developed ideas and recommendations during a workshop to promote the Games and presented them to an executive Baku 2015 panel, with the innovative "Bike to Baku" campaign chosen as the winner.

The winning team came up with the plan to create a cycling event where teams from each European country would bike to Azerbaijan for a good cause to help raise awareness of the European Games.

"I am very honoured that our 'Bike to Baku' project was chosen among many great ideas and we are excited to go to the European Games," said Nataliia Dobrynska, a member of the winning team who won heptathlon gold for Ukraine at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Ukrainian heptathlete Nataliia Dobrynska who won gold at Beijing 2008 was part of the winning team in the Baku 2015 promotional campaign challenge ©Getty Images



Other members of the team included Ineta Radevica, a former Olympic long jumper from Latvia; Igor Francetic, an ex-member of the Croatian Olympic rowing team; Susanne van Waert, legal counsel for the Netherlands Olympic Committee; and Carmen Berjillos Repullo, a physiotherapist from Spain who worked as a national swimming team coach.

The choosing of the winner coincided with the Closing Ceremony of the European Youth Session which was attended by William Louis-Marie, director of communications for Baku 2015, alongside Konul Nurullayeva, director of international relations at the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee.

"This exercise demonstrates Baku 2015's dedication to an innovative approach and willingness to involve the general public in the delivery of the European Games" said Louis-Marie.

"The winning entry was a thoroughly professional plan and reflects our commitment to constantly challenge ourselves to ensure we deliver a truly memorable event for the people of Azerbaijan and Europe next June."

The European Youth Session, organised jointly by the IOA, Baku 2015 and the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee, included lectures and workshops focused on promoting the history and values of the Olympic movement

Speaking after the session, IOA President Isidoros Kouvelos paid tribute to Baku 2015's involvement.

"It was a great honour to have such senior figures from the Baku 2015 European Games here and we appreciated their quality insight into the challenges they face," he said. 

"The competition to devise a promotional campaign was a brilliant way of energising everyone who attended and they were inspired by the chance to contribute to the Baku 2015 European Games."

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