The European Games are a chance for the oil company to cheer on the country that has been a key part of its global operating base since the early 1990s
The superlatives kept flowing as the British oil executive ran through the “remarkable history” of BP and Azerbaijan to a gathering of politicians and industrialists in Baku last week.
BP is the “official oil and gas partner” to the European Games but it was not only about fossil fuels, insisted Gordon Birrell, the company’s top man in the region: “Our [investment] activities in this area have covered communities, enterprises, public institutions, universities, schools, cultural and sport organisations.” BP would be cheering on Azeri athletes at the sporting event, Birrell assured his hosts – not least those it has been sponsoring.
Related: Azerbaijan bans Guardian from reporting on Baku European Games