The Organizing Committee of the First European Games has carried out considerable work to ensure excellent organization of this important international sports event after the European Olympic Committees announced its decision, head of the Public and Political Issues Department of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, presidential aide Ali Hasanov told on Mar.4.

The issues related to the construction of new sports facilities, repair of existing ones, improvement of social and transport infrastructure up to world standards, accommodation of guests, security and others are successfully addressed, and this work is nearing completion, according to the top official.

The European Olympic Committees has highly praised the preparation work, said Hasanov, adding that all this gives grounds to say with confidence that the first European Games to be held in Azerbaijan will be remarkable.

“Unfortunately, some local groups and international circles that are trying to discredit Azerbaijan’s achievements in economic, social, political, humanitarian and other fields, don’t want to miss this opportunity and attempt to make the First European Games the main topic of the “smear campaign” carried out against our country,” Hasanov said.

Amnesty International’s calling to boycott the First European Games, dissemination of disinformation on the measures taken in preparation for the Games, partial and biased articles published in foreign media and other issues are examples of these efforts, the top official said.

He said it is not accidental that Radio Liberty and some interested parties share animal cruelty videos on social networks, showing as if it was done in Azerbaijan.

"There is no evidence confirming that the video was shot in Azerbaijan,” the top official said.

“This proves once again that those putting forward such "facts" are trying to tarnish the image of Azerbaijan and commit provocation amid a major international sporting event, the European Games.”

“We faced such provocations in the past - on the eve of Eurovision-2012 Song Contest,” said the presidential aide.

“At that time, the international community was convinced that all this is nothing more than an insidious game of the forces intending to put pressure on Azerbaijan and impose their will on the country's independent policy.”

“We are confident that the use of such primitive and feeble methods to discredit Azerbaijan will produce no results and urge those forces to abandon their intentions,” Hasanov added.

The European Games will be hosted in Baku on June 12-28, 2015.

There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.

Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012.