She will be the final speaker when Baku makes a ten minute presentation to the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), here on Saturday (April 14), along with rivals Doha, Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo.

The Moscow-educated First Lady is the wife of Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan's President, who is also head of the country's National Olympic Committee (NOC), who is not attending the event.

But the Baku delegation is still high-powered as it also includes Yagub Eyyubov, the First Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of the Baku 2020 Bid, and Azad Rahimov, the Youth and Sports Minister and vice-president of the Azerbaijan NOC.

The delegation is completed by Chingiz Huseynzada, who is also the vice-president of the Azerbaijan NOC; Konul Nurullayeva, the chief executive of Baku 2020; Elkhan Mammadov, Baku 2020 sports and venues director; and Narguiz Birk-Petersen, the bid's communications director.

"Because of the enormous importance of this coming gathering of the Olympic Family, we have the honour of presenting our Bid together with Mehriban Aliyeva," said Nurullayeva. 

"Her presence in our delegation also confirms the total support of our country's Government – and she is also coming to Moscow to represent our country's population, an amazing 95 per cent of whom have expressed their support of our bid.

"Our vision to host the 2020 Games is clear: we want to prove that an Olympic Games is not only a sound investment in our nation's sport, health and quality of life, but that it can be hosted in a responsible manner which, in turn, provides a sustainable Games hosting model for the future.

"Baku has an ideal climate for sport; our city and country also offer a beautiful setting and an amazing history.

"And perhaps importantly in these challenging financial times, we have one of the strongest, fastest growing economies in the world.

"But our bid is not just about what hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games can do for Baku.

"Our slogan, 'Together we can', is also about creating a partnership with the Olympic Movement.

Our Applicant File offers the Movement a Games model based on true need; this means sustainable venues designed to remain in place, serving local and regional athletes.

"Our model can show future potential Host Cities around the world that the Olympic Games are achievable, responsible investments for the future, illustrating how Olympism can be an incredible catalyst for transforming a society and its environment."

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