"The sports facilities you have created here will serve your athletes, your communities and your young people for years to come," said President of the European Olympic Committees Patrick Hickey in his speech at the Closing Ceremony of the Baku 2015 European Games.

"Thank you to the International and European Federations. You came to these Games with your minds open to innovation. And together we showed that these modern-day multi-sports events can fit the needs and necessities of any city," Hickey noted.

The EOC President added: "I hope these Games stay with you. Your satisfaction in victory; your lessons in defeat. Now that you have lived, trained and competed with Europe's best you are ready to face the world at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games."