With less than 400 days left for the inaugural European Olympics to be held in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, next year, what do we know about the games?
The Organizing Committee responsible for the inaugural European Games in Baku was established by a decree of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The Committee is chaired by the First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, member of the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
Baku 2015 European Games Operation Committee (BEGOC) was established under the direction of the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee.
The CEO of BEGOC is the Minister of Youth and Sport Mr. Azad Rahimov and the Chief Operating Officer is Mr. Jim Scherr.
The order of the Azerbaijani president states:
“Governed by Clause 32 of Article 109 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in order to conduct the 2015 inaugural European Games in Baku at the proper level, I hereby resolve as follows:
To establish the Organizing Committee for conducting the inaugural European Games in Baku in June-July 2015.
To task the Ministry of Youth and Sports jointly with the Mayor’s Office of Baku and the National Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan with preparing and submitting to the Organizing Committee a special action plan for conducting the first European Games.
To task the Organizing Committee with resolving all the issues relating to the organization of the first European Games in Baku in 2015.
To task the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan with resolving the issues arising from the present Order.”
Which countries will attend Baku Olympics 2015?
Between 7,000 and 15,000 athletes from 49 European countries are going to participate in the games.
The countries will include Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, the Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Lichtenstein, Luxemburg, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Nitherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.
The games will include the following sports:
1. Aquatics: Quick to sell out in any Games, the Aquatics programme at Baku 2015 will include diving, swimming, synchronised swimming and water polo.
2. Archery: With a centuries-old tradition in the region, archery is sure to be a popular event in Baku. Crowds can expect some spellbinding shooting from Europe’s finest.
3. Athletics: Athletics involvement in the First European Games is yet to be confirmed.
4. Badminton: Fans can look forward to seven days of high-energy sport in sessions of men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
5. Basketball 3x3: Relatively new on the scene, Basketball 3x3 will take place at a temporary arena at the Aquatics precinct. Tickets will be in high demand to see the Azerbaijani medal hopefuls.
6. Beach Soccer: Azerbaijan’s beautiful coast makes it the ideal setting for FIFA’s well-loved variant that combines all the fun of the beach with all the improvisation skills of football played on sand.
7. Boxing: Adrenalin will run high over a 12 day period in the Crystal Hall, where competitors will test their strength, speed and reflexes to the limit.
8. Canoe Sprint: The oldest discipline of canoeing, canoe sprint, provides the perfect setting to follow exciting race-offs while soaking up the outdoors.
9. Cycling: The BMX Velopark and Mountain Bike Velopark will host BMX and mountain bike. Time-trial and road race will take place on the roads of Baku.
10. Fencing: Competitive fencing has been a part of Azerbaijan’s sport tradition throughout recorded history. Expect the bouts to be fast and furious!
11. Gymnastics: The National Gymnastics Arena will host the disciplines of Artistic, Rhythmic, Acrobatic, Aerobic and Trampoline, where competitors will strive to outdo each other in flexibility, agility and pure daring.
12. Judo: Requiring athletes to be at the pinnacle of mental rigour and physical dexterity, this full-contact combat sport will take place at the Heydar Aliyev Sports Arena.
13. Karate: Close to 100 competitors will compete at the Crystal Hall, in what is fast becoming one of Europe’s most popular sports.
14. Shooting: Baku Shooting Centre will be completely upgraded for the Games. As this will be an event with guaranteed Olympic qualification, the suspense will be intense.
15. Table Tennis: Quick fire volleys and lightning reaction times, there is never a dull moment in table tennis. Men’s and women’s competitions will take place at Baku Sports Hall.
16. Taekwondo: Taekwondo translates as 'the art of hand and foot fighting', and requires steely determination, focus and physical prowess.
17. Triathlon: Baku’s triathlon route promises plenty of opportunity for spectators to watch one of the world’s toughest endurance sports.
18. Volleyball: Some of Europe’s brightest stars in both Beach and Indoor Volleyball will be giving their best in front of crowds at the Beach Arena and Baku’s iconic seafront landmark, Crystal Hall.
19. Wrestling: Wrestling has a devoted local fan base. Competition in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines will give talented athletes the chance to be European champion and qualify for the Olympics.
ANN.Az
