BP, who were a top tier partner of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London, will become the oil and gas partner for the Games, an agreement which also sees the company assist athlete development in Azerbaijan.

BP had supported the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan in the run-up to London 2012 and last year extended that deal until after Rio 2016. 

This new sponsorship covers not only the European Games, but also the Games Academy, which had been launched in April.

The Academy aims to develop the skills and Games knowledge of local team members through the flexible learning pathway, as well as developing participating university graduates from Azerbaijan and all over Europe in the graduate excellence programme,

BP, a British multi-national company whose headquarters are in London, join Procter & Gamble and Tissot as official sponsors of Baku 2015. 

Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports and Baku 2015 Azad Rahimov is excited by the announcement of BP as a sponsor of the European Games ©Baku 2015

"BP is a company that has a long-standing presence in Azerbaijan and deep understanding of the country," said Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports and Baku 2015 chief executive.

"It has a history of supporting major international sports events around the world and we are delighted to be welcoming it as an Official Partner of the European Games.

"I am sure its support will help support the Games across Azerbaijan and Europe, and also help develop our athletes further in their pursuit of excellence."

The announcement was made to coincide with the One Year To Go celebrations for the Games, which had started at midnight with a spectacular firework display along Baku Boulevard.

The announcement BP were to sponsor Baku 2015 coincided with the One Year To Go celebrations until the opneing of the European Games, which had started at midnight with a spectacular firework display ©Baku 2015

BP employs more than 3,250 people in Azerbaijan and claims to have invested $45 billion (£27 billion/€33 billion) into projects in the country since 1994.

"We are delighted to be able to support Azerbaijan as it starts to prepare for such a grand sporting event," said Ian Sutherland, BP's regional vice-president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

"We believe this presents a unique opportunity for the country as it makes efforts to become a greater centre for sporting excellence.

"This is also a unique opportunity for hundreds of enthusiastic young Azerbaijani nationals to develop new skills and and knowledge adding to the country's delivery capability."