Somehow, having arrived just after the European Games had got underway, I managed never quite to find the time to visit the ancient treasure I have only glimpsed through the windows of passing cars or buses – Baku’s Maiden Tower.

An array of British musical talent brought the curtain down on the European Games here this evening in a Closing Ceremony blending the old and the modern, as well as the Western and the traditionally Azerbaijani.

Ireland ensured that Azerbaijan would have to share the glory on the final night of boxing at the European Games here tonight. 

Svein Arne Hansen, President of European Athletics, is “optimistic” that the sport will take place at the next European Games in 2019, and hinted that there could be a new format for competition.

The Baku 2015 Chefs de Missions from all 50 participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have each been awarded a commemorative medal by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) for their participation in the inaugural European Games.

Three Turkish cities are reportedly considering a bid for the 2019 European Games after Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) vice-president Hasan Arat suggested the country may put itself forward to host the event after The Netherlands pulled out two days before the inaugural competition here.

Hungary’s three-time Olympic champion Zoltan Kammerer admitted that being part of the winning men’s K4 1000 metres team would have meant more if had earned them a place in next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

If you having been paying attention to the top of the insidethegames site you will have noticed our countdown clocks ticking down to various upcoming Games taking place across the world and on Friday (June 12) Baku 2015 hit zero.

Switzerland claimed both cross-country mountain biking gold medals as Nico Schurter and Jolanda Neff stormed to comfortable victories here today.

Switzerland’s Jolanda Neff enjoyed a moment of history by becoming the first-ever European Games gold medallist as she won the women’s cross-country mountain bike event before teammate Nico Schurter claimed victory in the men’s race as the Swiss monopolised the medals here today.

If the message coming from European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Patrick Hickey concerning Armenia’s controversial participation in the inaugural European Games was that they were thrilled to have the country competing despite political tension with hosts Azerbaijan, the message coming from the crowd at the Opening Ceremony was the polar opposite.

The countdown to Europe’s first continental multi-sport Games is officially over after the Opening Ceremony of Baku 2015, which saw a sold-out Olympic Stadium in the Azerbaijan’s capital city treated to spectacular performances, including from international music star Lady Gaga.

The Azerbaijani Government are trying to “crackdown on freedom of expression” after Amnesty International were denied entry into the country ahead of the inaugural European Games in Baku, a spokesperson for the organisation told insidethegames.

European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Patrick Hickey claimed here today that two cities have expressed an interest in replacing The Netherlands as hosts of the 2019 edition of the European Games.