Following his election last Saturday (April 11), Hansen confirmed his intention to meet with Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), in Baku during the Games to discuss increasing athletics' role in future Games.

It followed on from his previous comments that there is “no transparency” with Federations regarding athletics' involvement in the rival European Sport Championship, due to be staged in Berlin in 2018, with swimming, rowing, cycling and triathlon set to be held simultaneously in Glasgow.

Clegg welcomed his remarks, viewing them as a show of faith in the future of the European Games and the quality of sports set to be take place in Baku, with the multi-sport event less than two months away.

 “I think what is important here is that I believe we can demonstrate we will deliver an outstanding European Games even with low-level swimming and athletics and that shows that we are not dependent on those sports going forward," he said.

“I think that is very powerful and I am very confident about the future of the European Games.”

Although athletics will have a presence at the inaugural edition of the European Games, it will only be the Third League of the European Team Championships, with Hansen stating that if the sport is to be included it needs to be of a “higher standard".

Clegg believes that a higher level of competition in athletics and swimming would be beneficial, but not essential, for the European Games moving forwards.

“I think what we have demonstrated is that this event can stand on its own two feet without having the best track and field athletes and the best swimmers here,” Clegg said.

“Would the event be further enhanced by having the best track and field athletes and the best swimmers?

"The answer to that is yes.

“Is it dependent on them in the future, in my view, it is not.”

Baku 2015 are currently staging their final two test events, in boxing and wrestling, before the Games are set to begin on June 12 and Clegg said he was confident ahead of the event with only minor concerns remaining.

His worries relate to the lack of previous experience in the country of hosting an event of this scale and possible misinterpretations due to the language barrier between Azeri volunteers and English-speaking senior staff.

Clegg also again claimed that Baku 2015 continue to “move in the right direction” regarding securing television deals with British and Russian broadcasters ahead of the Games.

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