The President also lit the traditional Novruz bonfire during a walkabout on the Boulevard that will link key elements of the Games which are due to run from June 12 to 28.

Among the areas they toured were the Old City and National Seaside Park.

Twelve of the 20 sports which will take part in the Games also staged demonstrations for the public in a section dedicated to the forthcoming sporting event that will bring more than 6,000 athletes to the city.

Among them were taekwondo, 3x3 basketball - which encouraged queues of youngsters to try their luck in scoring - gymnastics and wrestling.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev took part in a ceremonial purchase of the first ticket for Baku 2015 during the Novruz celebrations ©Baku 2015

Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports and chief executive of Baku 2015, also presented President Aliyev with a ticket purchase confirmation from the first online sale.

"Novruz is a special time for the Azerbaijani people, and the celebrations this year will include the showcasing of the European Games - the biggest sporting event ever to be held in our country," said Rahimov.  

The start of the festivities this year was made even more special by the presence of the President, the First Lady and their family.

"This was a great occasion, and the demonstrations allow the public to learn about the sports which will be held at our fantastic Baku 2015 venues this summer."

President Aliyev surveying the work that has been done on the National Stadium ©Official site of the President of Azerbaijan

Earlier, the President and First Lady, chair of the Baku 2015, had attended an Opening Ceremony at the National Stadium at which they also reviewed ongoing construction of road and transport infrastructure.

Rahimov updated them on recent work done in the six-storey Stadium, which has a capacity of 68,000 people and parking for more than 3,000 cars.



Simon Clegg, chief operating officer of Baku 2015, believes the events taking place around Novruz and the launch of the tickets going on sale will only increase expectations about the Games. 

"The ticket launch is one of the key milestones in the life of any major sporting event, and Baku 2015 is no different," he said. 

"I have no doubt that the launch of ticket sales, together with the sporting demonstrations on the Boulevard, will increase the excitement that is already being felt in Baku as the Games approach."

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