If I had any lingering doubts about the appetite of locals for the inaugural European Games, I have to say they have been firmly put to bed since the moment I arrived in the host city on Friday (May 29) morning.

The buzz around the place was immediately evident as soon as stepped foot beyond passport control, such was the delight on the face of the Baku 2015 Operations Committee (BEGOC) representative as he put my press accreditation through the laminating machine.

While it was personally a real honour to officially become the first accredited journalist to arrive in Baku, I sensed that it was equally satisfying for him to bestow that crown upon me.

The excitable vibes I was getting were even more apparent when reaching my destination, the Baku 2015 Media Village, handily located next to the Athletes’ Village in the north-west part of the city.

For a moment, as I was walking towards the reception desk, I felt like I was attending an interview - I said as much as I sat down with numerous pairs of eyes on me.

Again, as in the airport, I could tell that they were extremely pleased to welcome their first guest, fretting over my every need and even taking photos of me at one stage! Quite an overwhelming experience from my perspective.

I suppose a wealth of enthusiasm was always to be expected on BEGOC’s part, especially with the Opening Ceremony of the European Games less than two weeks away.

A better gauge of the level of anticipation surrounding the multi-sport event was always going to lie in the city centre.

Having stayed at a city centre hotel while covering the Baku 2015 gymnastics test event in March, I had plenty of memories fresh in my mind regarding the level of European Games promotion.

Although pretty high then, it’s increased no end since. The city is swamped with all things Baku 2015 to the point where you can catch a glimpse of the award-winning brand with nearly every head turn.

The countdown clock, situated on a roundabout close to Baku Boulevard, is certainly one of the most eye-catching commemorations to what promises to be an unforgettable 17 days of high-octane action, while Park Bulvar shopping mall is awash with Baku 2015 merchandise and sporting activities organised by the Games’ official partners, such as P&G, who are giving shoppers the opportunity to test out their basketball skills.

Just outside one of the entrances to the shopping mall is a model version of one of the two official Baku 2015 mascots, Nar the pomegranate, which seems to have been a real hit with Baku residents young and old.

The fact I had to wait quite some time to catch an unobstructed shot of Nar, which can be seen as part of a picture gallery by clicking here, tells you all you need to know about the amount of attention it’s attracted.

Perhaps more striking though than these obvious promotions of the Games is the sheer number of the more subtle type.

You’d be extremely hard pressed to find a lamppost that doesn’t carry the Baku 2015 branding and if there’s not a Baku 2015 taxi zooming past, expect there to be a bus of the same mould to be doing so.  

Add to this the large commemorative plaques that adorn the destination of each individual venue, all incredibly spectacular in their own right, and it’s no wonder that the atmosphere is growing.

This will surely only intensify when the Baku 2015 Flame arrives in the host city next Sunday (June 7), five days before the Games are officially declared open.

By that time the Flame will have travelled the length and breadth of the country, having begun its long journey on April 26.

And when it enters the 68,000-seat National Stadium for the Opening Ceremony on June 12, it will have travelled 5,500 kilometres, been carried by more than 1,000 Torchbearers across all 60 regions of Azerbaijan, and come within an hour’s travelling time of 99 per cent of the population.

There seems to have been no stone left unturned in terms of selling the appeal of the Games to the nation, and particularly the residents of Baku.

Here’s hoping that the relentless promotional drive pays dividends.

I strongly suspect it will.