 |
|
Long Live Azerbaijan! Country's President Welcomes Decision to Stage Inaugural European Games in Baku |
|
|
Games - 11 Dec 2012 - Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, has welcomed the decision of the European Olympic Committees at the weekend to hold the inaugural edition of the European Games in Baku, the country’s capital, in a lengthy statement on his official website.
Aliyev wrote: “I warmly congratulate the people of Azerbaijan on this great historical event. This is a truly historical event because these are the first-ever European Olympic games and holding the first-ever games in Baku is a great historical event, a great success in our country.”
The award of the 2015 European Games is a major boost to Baku and the Azerbaijan Olympic Committee, which was left disappointed by its failure to make the shortlist of candidate cities for the 2020 Olympic Games earlier this year.
Baku received no votes out of the 12 on offer from the International Olympic Committee's executive board, as for the second summer Olympics bid race in succession the city was kicked out at the first stage.
The president stressed several factors which contributed, he claimed, to Baku being chosen to host the European Games, including Azerbaijan’s “international prestige,” its selection last year to become a member of the UN Security Council, its “many years” of political stability and its “economic success.”
He said: “I want to note the fact that a whole lot of work, aimed at the creation of sports infrastructure, has been carried in Baku and Azerbaijan, in general. Many of the projects are completed. Sports facilities that are under construction now will be commissioned in the next two years. That is, we are well positioned for hosting European Olympic Games. There are both sports infrastructure, and our developed city…
“The success of our athletes were demonstrated in the Summer Olympics too. At the Summer Olympics this year, we have made a historical victory and won 10 medals. We have taken the 30th place globally and the 15th place among European countries. That is, all of these factors played a role in the decision.”
The president concluded: “The games are to be held in 2015. That is we have only two years to prepare. I am sure that we will take all measures related to the preparation for these games, and hold them at a high level. We will again demonstrate to the world that a young, independent, dynamic Azerbaijan has achieved a great success.
“I warmly congratulate the people of Azerbaijan on this wonderful event. Long live Azerbaijan!”
Meanwhile, Azad Rahimov, the Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports, said that some facilities, for example for beach volleyball, will be temporary. After the games, they will be either dismantled or leased.
With respect to an athletes’ village, he said: “For this purpose, we plan to repair and deliver the buildings, located at Heydar Aliyev Avenue near the Koroglu metro station for sportsmen's use.”
The European Games have been in the pipeline for some time, with Patrick Hickey, the president of the EOC, a leading proponent of a continental event along the lines of the well-established Asian Games and Pan American Games.
The new event is expected to last for 14 days and is budgeted to cost €182 million ($233 million) to stage and bring in revenues of €124 million, with the difference to be made up by governments and/or host cities.
Sportcal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
| Powered by |  |
|
|