One cyclist's journey to the Baku 2015 European Games has begun

To cycle from Lisbon to Baku, promoting the inaugural European Games along the way. That is the

challenge proposed by Jorge Cristóvão, a 53 year-old cyclist and adventure athlete, and the

Portuguese National Olympic Committee (NOC). His journey began today at Lisbon’s Torre de Belém,

in a ceremony attended by more than 100 people, including athletes and coaches who will

represent Portugal in Baku, National Sport Federation representatives, and Mr Cristóvão’s family

and friends.

Mr Cristóvão was given the Portuguese flag by the NOC’s Chef de Mission, José Garcia, to whom he

will return it on 10 June when he arrives in Baku, in order for the flag to be used by the Portuguese

delegation’s flag bearer at the Baku 2015 European Games Opening Ceremony on 12 June.

Mr Cristóvão was also presented with the electric bike that he will ride for close to 7,000 kilometres,

and the President of the Olympic Committee of Portugal, José Manuel Constantino, handed him

letters addressed to presidents of NOCs in the countries he will visit on his route to Baku. Mr.

Cristóvão will deliver the letters to the NOCs of Spain, France (Côte D’Azur office), Monaco, Italy,

Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as the EOC headquarters in Rome and the Olympic Museum

in Thessaloniki, Greece.

These letters from the Portuguese NOC President and Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 Simon

Clegg will encourage the other NOCs to participate in the European Games with their best athletes,

thereby promoting the event throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

At the end of the ceremony, the new Mayor of the City of Lisbon, Fernando Medina, gave Mr

Cristóvão a letter addressed to the Baku mayor, Hajibala Abutalybov.

Last year, Baku 2015 set an innovative challenge to develop a promotional strategy for the European

Games, with invitations to the spectacular Opening Ceremony on offer for the best proposal. The

winning idea was Bike to Baku. This idea has now been brought to life by the Portuguese National

Olympic Committee in the form of Lisbon2Baku, which will see Mr Cristovão travel the breadth of

the continent.

Mr Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, said: "We are delighted to see the Bike to

Baku idea come to life through the Lisbon2Baku initiative. Jorge’s journey will contribute to raising

awareness of the inaugural European Games across the continent, and is a great example of the

enthusiasm that Baku 2015 is inspiring amongst National Olympic Committees in Europe. We look

forward to welcoming Jorge to Baku in June, and wish him the best of luck on his travels."

The entire journey can be followed through the official website (www.lisboa2baku.com), as well as

through social media (Facebook, YouTube and Flickr).

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