Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Most young Azerbaijanis are excited at the opportunity to volunteer at the Baku 2015 European Games, new survey has revealed.

The survey of 150,403 Azerbaijani students - the largest ever undertaken in the country - has shown 71 percent believe that hosting the European Games will benefit Azerbaijan.

The survey was conducted by Baku 2015 European Games Operation Committee with the support of the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation and the Azerbaijan Student Youth Organizations' Union earlier this year.

More than 26,000 youngsters are keen to apply for the 12,000 volunteer roles in holding the inaugural Games.

The volunteer recruitment program will be inspired by the slogan "Be Amongst the Winners."

The Chief Operating Officer at Baku 2015, Simon Clegg said: "This detailed survey of Azerbaijan's student population proves how passionate the young generation is about the European Games."

"It is very encouraging to know that so many young people are keen to help make the Games come alive, as we want the world feel and experience the famous Azerbaijani hospitality," he noted.

"We will work hard to ensure that we capture the enthusiasm felt by the students as we get closer to the inaugural European Games, an event that the entire continent will enjoy," Clegg stressed.

Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation and a board member of Baku 2015, Farhad Hajiyev said: "The volunteers will be central to the success of the Games and I am sure the experience they gain will contribute to Azerbaijan's future development."

"The whole country is passionate about sport and Baku 2015 will be the perfect platform to promote Azerbaijan as a modern and dynamic country capable of hosting major international sporting events," he said.

"As university students return to their studies in the coming weeks, we would look forward to the next phase of our campaign and receiving thousands more applications from young Azerbaijanis who want to help support the Games," he added.

Chairman of the Azerbaijan Student Youth Organizations' Union, Shahin Ismailov said the results of the survey show that a volunteer culture has been completely developed in Azerbaijan. "I am sure that student volunteers will play a successful role in the important mission of organizing the Games," he said.

Today, BEGOC can also announce it has received more than 8,000 applications for its volunteer program in the first two months of its recruitment campaign.

The program, which was officially launched on June 12, is aimed at recruiting young Azerbaijani and international volunteers for a number of roles during the first European Games.

Azer Almammadov, 21, is one of the first Baku 2015 European Games volunteers to be selected and is looking forward to playing a vital role at next year's event.

"Volunteering is an amazing opportunity to feel being part of the European Games spirit. We are a young country and the first European Games will give us the opportunity to show that Azerbaijanis are involved in shaping the future of our nation," he said.

"We want to show the rest of Europe and even the world what we can accomplish the mission by welcoming a large range of people from a number of different countries and cultures," Almammadov added.

With 60 per cent of the population under the age of 30, Azerbaijan's current young generation will play an important role in shaping the country's future and benefit from the Baku 2015 legacy.

For more information on opportunities available within the Baku 2015 volunteer program, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/baku2015volunteers

Baku 2015 will be the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative new multi-sport event for the continent that will take place from June 12 until June 28, 2015.

There will be a total of 19 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and three non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes are expected to represent their nations over the 17 days of competition.