The special ceremony took place in the ancient and sacred temple of Ateshgah, Baku. Also present at the event commemorating the start of the flame’s journey across Baku – The Journey of the Flame – were First Lady and Chair of Baku European Games Organising Committee Merhiban Alieyva and President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey, along with 150 distinguished guests.
Ateshgah, one of Azerbaijan’s most remarkable landmarks, stands on a site renowned for its naturally occuring flames, sacred to Zoroastrian fire worshippers for centuries. In a throw back to Ancient Greece where the Olympic Flame was kindled from the rays of the sun, Azerbaijan, ‘the land of Fire’ captured the flame for the first European Games from the earth.
