A Festival of Fire formed the highlight as the Baku 2015 Torch Relay visited Lankaran ©Baku 2015

Azerbaijan’s fourth largest city Lankaran has become the second stop on the Baku 2015 European Games Torch Relay, with a special "Festival of Fire" held as part of the aim to channel the spirit of the inaugural event across the host nation. 

The Flame, officially lit at the Ateshgah temple close to Baku itself on Sunday (April 26), then travelled west to Nakhchivan for its first stop before being transported on a special charter flight back east to Lankaran, a city situated between the Caspian Sea and Talysh Mountains notable for its ancient history and rich culture.

Following the completion of the Lankaran Olympic Sports Complex in 2003, the city has hosted major events including weightlifting's European Cup, while it also boasts the FIFA-standard 15,000-capacity Lankaran City Stadium, which hosted a World Cup qualifier between Azerbaijan and Finland in 2009.

An official convoy received a rapturous welcome from local residents upon arrival at the airport, with thousands of people spilling out onto the streets to cheer on the Torchbearers as the event continued.

Today's route passed local tea plantations and the Mayak lighthouse, which is linked to the fortress rumoured to have held a secret tunnel that helped future Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s escape from prison in the early 1900s.

Torchbearers Sugra Mugabilzade and Nuran Nuseynov pose during the Relay in Lankaran ©Baku 2015
Torchbearers Sugra Mugabilzade and Nuran Nuseynov pose during the Relay in Lankaran ©Baku 2015

Flame carriers included local athletes and coaches, beginning with the former world and European junior judo champion Parvin Gasimzade, who expressed his delight at being involved in such an important sporting event.

"I am very glad to be a Torchbearer of the inaugural European Games," he said.

"Previously, I was engaged in Greco-Roman wrestling; and experienced happiness as the Junior World and Europe champion.

"Today’s event reminded me of those days.

"These moments will be the most precious memories for me.”

Proceedings finished with a Festival of Fire, a free evening event bringing together thousands of people to be part of the festivities, which included a specially created Fire Show, telling the legend of "a boy and girl, good and evil, truth and lies". 

More information on the Torch Relay can be found via the Baku 2015 website here. 



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