The unveiling of the ticket policy, with prices for the Opening Ceremony starting as low as AZN20 (£12/$19/€;17), marked a momentous day for Azerbaijani officials, who also revealed the look of the medals to be awarded at the Games, scheduled to last for 17 days until June 28.

"I am very proud of our ticketing policy announced today, which will allow us to share the experience of the European Games competitions with the widest possible audience, including families," said Simon Clegg, the chief operating officer of Baku 2015.

"Baku 2015 is focused on Europe's athletes and their commitment to sporting excellence, and bringing the inspiration they provide to the public.

"It is also wonderful to mark the beginning of the 100 day countdown by revealing the iconic design of the first European Games medals, and to look forward to the great sporting feats our continent's sportsmen and women will accomplish here in Baku.

"We are committed to providing athletes with the perfect stage upon which to shine, and I believe that these marvellous medal designs will provide recognition that is worthy of their efforts." 

The announcements about ticket prices and the medals coincided with the 100 days to go countdown until the start of Baku 2015 ©ITG

The low ticketing prices are an admission by organisers of the challenge they face in filling arenas in a country where there is little history or culture of attending major events.

More than 650,000 tickets will be available across the 20 sports that make up the programme for the debut of these Games, along with the Opening and Closing Ceremonies in the new 60,000 capacity National Stadium.

Adult tickets for sport sessions will range between AZN2 (£1.20/$1.90/€1.70) and AZN 5 (£3/$4.70/€4.30), according to competition round, preliminary or final), seat category, and venue.

Children and teenagers under 16 will benefit from complimentary admission to most venues when accompanied by an adult n possession of identification and a valid ticket for the session.

The only exceptions will be events held at the Heydar Aliyev Arena and National Gymnastics Arena, where admission for under-16s will cost just AZN1 (£0.60/$0.95/€0.85).

The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will have a separate pricing scheme for spectators of all ages.

Opening Ceremony seats will be priced from AZN 20 (£12/$19/€17), with seats at the Closing Ceremony priced from AZN10 (£6/$9.50/€8.60).

The gold, silver and bronze medals also revealed today feature iconography developed in line with the decorative Baku 2015 branding.

The design, which features the Baku 2015 logo at its centre, is a metaphor for the dynamic, beautiful and culturally-rich host city, officials claimed, while the reverse face features the European Olympic Committees emblem and word mark.

The medal design was created by renowned jeweller Adamas, which also produced the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games medals, in collaboration with Azerbaijani artist Nargiz Huseynova.

They will be manufactured locally by Azersouvenir.

The Baku 2015 medals will be an "inspiration" to athletes, claimed Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov (right), as he unveiled the design along with Patrick Hickey (second right), President of the European Olympic Committees ©Baku 2015

"It has always been our intention to recognise the first European Games athletes' achievements with a medal design as unique as the occasion itself," said Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports and Baku 2015 chief executive. 

"There are now only 100 days before the start of the Games, and I am sure that these beautiful medals will provide athletes with inspiration and raise the public's anticipation even further during the countdown to the event in June."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
March 2015: Daniel Etchells: Venue tour suddenly makes Baku 2015 seem that bit more real
February 2015: Irish boxing superstar Taylor named latest Baku 2015 athlete ambassador
February 2015: Setanta Sports awarded Baku 2015 broadcast rights in Ireland
February 2015: Baku 2015 staging European Judo Championships can help secure British TV deal, claims TeamGB Chef de Mission
February 2015: Baku 2015 unveils uniform design for Flamekeeper volunteers