On June 28, a closing ceremony of Baku-2015 1^st European Games took place.

The ceremony, which took place at the Baku Olympic Stadium, was attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady, Chairperson of Baku-2015 1^st European Games Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey, President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevnelieyev, and other officials.

Over 1600 volunteers were involved in the show organized at the closing ceremony. A creative group comprised of over 300 people from 28 countries and up to a thousand specialists in different spheres from 34 countries were involved in the ceremony’s organization.

Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the ceremony:

- The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Ilham Aliyev.

President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey.

Esteemed guests.

Athletes of the European Games.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Welcome to the closing ceremony of the 1^st European Games.

Esteemed fellow citizens,

I congratulate you on the successful completion of the 1^st European Games.  Thank you for your friendship, hospitality and support you have shown towards Azerbaijan’s national team, European athletes and numerous guests during the Games.

I wish new victories to independent Azerbaijan, happiness and peace to the people of Azerbaijan. 

Dear Friends,

The 1^st European Games come to an end. Last 17 days have been significant and unforgettable in the history of Azerbaijan.

We take pride in having hosted the 1^st European Games. We are pride of Azerbaijan turning its undertakings into reality in a matter of two and a half years, and holding a sports event meeting the highest standards. 

In the course of the last 17 days, we have seen a unity, solidarity and friendship between the European states. 

I would like to thank the people of Azerbaijan and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mister Ilham Aliyev for the great support they have provided to the Games and athletes. 

The people of Azerbaijan is pride of its athletes. They have, in total, gained 56 medals, including 21 gold, and took the 2^nd place by the total number of medals. Azerbaijani athletes, your achievements are an obvious example for future generations. 

I would like to thank all athletes that have participated in these Games. I thank you for turning the first European Games into such an unforgettable sports festival. You have bestowed upon us your splendid performances with great enthusiasm, courage and delicacy. These Games are your games and your achievements fill us with enthusiasm indeed. 

I congratulate every one of you.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the European Olympic Committee and its President Mister Patrick Hickey that have turned the idea of European Games into reality due to their position and decisiveness. 

I would also like to thank Chairperson of the Coordination Committee Spiros Capralos for his valuable recommendations during the preparation works. 

I am grateful to the members of the Organization Committee and all our international partners for the loyalty shown and the work done. 

I would like to thank numerous devoted fans that have come from Europe to support their teams. You have marked victories. You comforted during losses. You created wish, excitement and a friendly environment for the Games. 

I would like to thank our volunteers. We could not have held this event without your help. Your enthusiasm and professionalism helped us revive the spirit of Baku-2015. Our country has such talented youth with great future. 

We also thank our volunteers from foreign countries. You have come to Azerbaijan from all of Europe to support us in organizing this historical event and become a part of a sport and friendship festival. We will miss you, and hope to see you again in this country. 

Azerbaijan opened its arms and heart to Europe. We welcomed our old friends and gained new ones. 

This evening, we say bye to all of you, and look forward to seeing you in Azerbaijan again for other events.

Next year, we will host the 42^nd Chess Olympiad and “Formula-1” European Grand Prix competitions in Baku. In 2017, the 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games will be held in Azerbaijan. Finally, in 2020, matches of the European Football Championship will be organized in our city. 

This evening, we will put the torch out and the 1^st European Games will come to an end.  At the time such a sport and friendship holiday comes to an end, I want to declare that I am greatly proud of our country and people.

Last 17 days will always remain in our memory. They will be conveyed to future generations and be an unforgettable moment of our history. 

Thank you, athletes!

Thank you, friends!

Thank you, Azerbaijan!

X X X

Then President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey took the floor:

- The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Ilham Aliyev.

The First Lady, Chairperson of Baku-2015 1^st European Games Mehriban Aliyeva.

Esteemed Guests.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Finally, every human who has shared this 17-day magnificent sports holiday with us. Thank you!

The spark lighting the European Games came from the Land of Fire.

Azerbaijan, you have been our sincere and hospitable host.

The Operations Committee of Baku-2015 1^st European Games under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva prepared very nice arenas in Europe for best men and women sportsmen. 

Accuracy of the activity corresponded to gold medal standards.

A team of new young heroes was formed by Your nice volunteers. 

All these were ensured in a matter of 30 months. 

The sports facilities you have created here will, in the coming years, serve your athletes, your people and youth. 

We thank all of you for the unity you have shown in the implementation of such a big project. You inspired your teams to the highest achievements. 

We thank international and European federations. You have approached these Games, this innovation with an open mind.  Together, we demonstrated that these all-round sports events of the contemporary time might meet demands and wishes of every city.

We thank European athletes. You have decently represented your countries, and the continent. Greatness of the Games is defined by high sport achievements. 

You have bestowed upon us a magnificent sports holiday. 

I hope you will remember these Games forever. You celebrated victories, learned a lesson from losses. After living, exercising together and competing against best sportsmen of Europe, you are ready to appear before the whole world at Rio-2016 Olympic Games. 

Europe is a continent of diversity, great competition and sport. However, here, at the European Games, we got together with common belief and under a common flag:  marching towards the sport and Olympic ideals leads us to a space that unites us, not separate. This belief means that we – 50 countries of Europe – may be together every four years during two magnificent weeks.

They were the Games that all future European Games will rely on. Unconquerable and inspiring foundation of such an event was laid here. 

I am saying to the European Family and all our friends throughout the world with full confidence:

Azerbaijan has a bright future.

The European Games have a bright future.

Europe’s nice athletes have a bright future.

Now, with a feeling of gratitude, pride and great optimism, I declare the Baku-2015 1^st European Games closed.

Thank you, Baku!

Thank you, Azerbaijan!

X X X

After the speeches, a show devoted to the closing ceremony was demonstrated. Fireworks took place at the end of the show.