Hadley has been Cirque du Soleil's senior artistic director for several of their most well-known shows in North America including Mystère, La Nouba, "O", The Beatles' LOVE, Ka, Iris and Zumanity and joins an impressive production team for the Ceremony.

He will be accompanied by Libby Hyland, who has been involved in the Ceremonies at the Rio 2007 and Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games, as his creative director.

"Creating the Closing Ceremony for Baku 2015 is both an honour and a challenge," Hadley said.

"My goal is to give the European Games the spectacular finale it deserves and to create a memorable show for the attendees and the viewers worldwide."

The Baku 2015 Closing Ceremony will bring together the 6,000 athletes from the 50 respective competing nations for the final time, along with friends, family, sponsors and coaches. 

Hadley has also directed a large majority of Cirque du Soleil's appearances on chat shows and at award ceremonies in America, including The Tonight Show, Live with Kelly and Michael, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show and the Grammy Awards.

James Hadley has over 25 years experience in the artistic directing field and has produced Cirque du Soleil shows at events such as the Grammy Awards ©Getty Images



Both Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the inaugural European Games in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, due to take place from June 12 to June 28, are going to be led by production company FiveCurrents, who were charged with producing the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games Ceremonies.

"James and Libby complete the already strong artistic team we have put together in Baku," Baku 2015 Director of Ceremonies Catherine Ugwu added.

"Their creative vision, combined with FiveCurrents' production experience, will ensure a Closing Ceremony that is fitting to celebrate the end of the European Games."

The artist behind the spectacular Athens 2004 Olympic Games Ceremonies, Dimitris Papaioannou, was announced as the main director for the Baku 2015 Opening Ceremony in October of last year.

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