Among those to have signed are the country's President, Ilham Aliyev (pictured), and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva, who added their signatures during a walkabout in Baku to celebrate the colourful festival of Novruz, which heralds the arrival of spring.

"This deluge of signatures, which are being collected in towns and cities all over the country by one of the national youth groups, graphically demonstrates the huge passion and desire that people in Azerbaijan have to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Konul Nurullayeva, the chief executive of Baku 2020.

"It also backs up the results of our opinion poll, submitted in the Applicant File, which showed an amazing 95 per cent support for the Bid.

"The positive environmental, social and economic impact of Baku 2020 is almost impossible to calculate.

"And the legacy for sport in Azerbaijan will transform the lives of athletes for generations to come.

"That is why there is such an amazing passion in Azerbaijan for hosting the Games in Baku."

The nationwide signature campaign is being supported by the country's many Olympians, both past and present.

Olympic Champions Farid Mansurov, the 66kg 2004 Olympic wrestling champion, and Zemfira Meftaheddinova, the Sydney 2000 shooting gold medallist, both helped to launch the campaign last week.

"Our Bid is not only about what the Olympic Games can do for Baku and Azerbaijan, however," said Nurullayeva. 

"Our slogan, 'Together we can', proposes a partnership with the Olympic Movement.

"Baku 2020 offers an historic opportunity for a new chapter in Olympic history, and thanks to our location bridging east and west, Baku will open new and lucrative markets for the IOC and its partners.

"But we know our bid is not unique in these benefits – which is why we are also offering the Olympic Movement a new, sustainable model of hosting the Games; a model based on true need; this means sustainable venues designed to remain in place, serving local and regional athletes for generations to come."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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