Among the honoured guests attending the Ceremony were Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, First Vice President Mehrban Aliyeva and European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Janez Kocijančič.
The introduction of the flag of Azerbaijan was
followed by the parade of nations, which featured athletes from the 48 European
National Olympic Committees competing at Baku 2019 and EOC refugee athlete Nazret Kobodom, a 16-year-old Eritrean runner currently seeking asylum
in Israel who will compete in the Girls’ 3 000m.
Estonian flag bearer was judoka
Karl Tani Priilinn-Türk. 16-year-old Priilinn-Türk (Aitado club, student of
Tallinn Secondary Science School), who is competing in judo -90kg, took 5th
place in the Cadet European Judo Championships this year and has won two silver
medals from Cadet European Cup.
"I am definitely happy and honoured that I was chosen as a flag bearer and it is great
that my results have been noticed. At the same time I am a little nervous. I
hope that I am able to wrestle worthy of the honour of being a flag bearer.
The festival will be attended by
3,900 athletes from 48 European countries. 52 percent of the participants are
males, and 48 percent are females. Athletes will compete for 135 sets of
medals. A total of 930 medals are prepared for the winners, including 300 gold,
300 silver and 330 bronze medals.
Athletes will compete in ten kinds of sports - gymnastics, athletics, basketball, cycling, handball, judo, swimming, tennis, volleyball and wrestling.
Estonian tennis players were already competing before the opening ceremony: in boys singles round of 64 Andreas Sillaste defeated Patrik Jurina (CRO) 7:5, 6:2, Erko Nigula defeated Artur Yurkevich (BLR) 3:6, 6:3, 10:6. In girls singles round of 64, Liisa Varul defeated 6:0, 6:4 Mafalda Guedes (POR), Elisabeth Iila lost to Matilde Morais (POR) 2:6, 3:6.