"This is the first ever visit by a Coordination Commission for the first ever European Games.

"There is a packed agenda of meetings with the very ambitious and capable Local Organising Committee.

"The visit is tangible evidence that this innovative development in European sport is gathering momentum.

"We are determined that the inaugural European Games will deliver world-class venues and infrastructure to enable Europe's finest athletes to perform at their very best."

Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva is head of Baku 2015

The European Games, a multisport event for elite athletes in the continent that will be held every four years, was launched following a majority vote of 49 National Olympic Committees during the EOC general assembly in December 2012.

Up to 7,000 athletes are expected to compete at Baku 2015 in June of that year and the majority of summer sports European Federations have since committed to partnering with the EOC to help make up the Games programme, which is due to be announced later this year.

"It will be a pleasure and an honour to welcome the EOC Coordination Commission to Baku for its first official meeting," said Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's Sports Minister, who is also the chief executive of Baku 2015.

"We look forward to sharing our plans with the Commission and to establishing the milestones that will be used to measure our progress in delivering the European Games.

"The EOC Coordination Commission brings together individuals with a wide range of experience in international sport, and the knowledge and insights of each Commission member will be invaluable as we finalise our Games concept."

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