Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Baku 2015 European Games has announced a further two international athletes who will be Ambassadors for this summer’s inaugural event.

German table tennis player Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Greek fencer Vassiliki Vougiouka will represent their sports and feature in extensive marketing campaigns in their home countries and on social media to promote the Games.

Ovtcharov is the current world number six and won silver as part of the German men’s table tennis team at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He also won bronze in both the men’s singles and team events at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Vougiouka competes in the sabre discipline, and is currently ranked sixth in the world. She won gold at the 2010 Fencing World Cup in Budapest, the first ever World Cup victory by a Greek fencer, and was a silver medallist at both the 2012 and 2013 European Championships.

Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, said: “Being able to welcome further international Athlete Ambassadors of this calibre reflects the importance of this new event on the sporting calendar. I am sure both Dimitrij and Vassiliki will very much enjoy promoting the Games and playing an important role in the development of European sport.”

Both athletes join Irish boxer Katie Taylor, Team GB’s Taekwondo athlete Jade Jones, French rhythmic gymnast Kseniya Moustafaeva, Denmark’s canoe sprinter René Holten Poulsen and Serbia’s Basketball 3x3 team of Dušan Domović Bulut, Marko Savic, Marko Zdero and Dejan Majstorovic, as Baku 2015 international Athlete Ambassadors.

Ovtcharov, 26, said: “The first European Games are a great opportunity to raise the profile of table tennis and for the sport to win new fans. It’s also wonderful to be involved in a new major sporting event which will bring the continent together. I can’t wait for the Games to begin, and am looking forward to promoting them in the build-up to the Opening Ceremony.”

Vougiouka, 28, said: “Fencing is a popular European sport, so as a fencer it is a great honour to have been invited to promote the first European Games in Baku. I have been fortunate enough to compete all over the world so I know how sport brings people together, and I will do my best to spread the Baku 2015 message in the months ahead.”

Dirk Schimmelpfennig, Germany’s Chef de Mission for Baku 2015, said: “Dimitrij’s participation as a Baku 2015 international Athlete Ambassador reflects his support for the European Games. Germany has a strong sporting tradition, and the Athlete Ambassador programme will help to generate interest and excitement in the country ahead of Baku 2015.”

Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Chair of the EOC Coordination Commission for Baku 2015, said: “I have no doubt that Vassiliki will do a great job of promoting Baku 2015 to build support for all our Greek athletes in Baku this summer. As one of Europe’s best fencers, you couldn’t ask for a better ambassador for the first European Games.”

Baku 2015 European Games will gather together over 6,000 sportsmen from 50 countries to compete in 20 sports. The Games will take place in 21 stadia and facilities in Baku and Mingachevir city.

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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar

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