First European Games in Baku

We can already say with confidence that the First European Games, which started in Baku on June 12, 2015, are successful. Even 10 years ago it was hard to imagine that Azerbaijan could host such a large and significant event. Although objectivity requires recognition that the development of sports in the country was of great importance even during the period of the national leader Heydar Aliyev. His son Ilham Aliyev, who became the president of Azerbaijan in 2003, took up the torch. He is also the president of the National Olympic Committee.

Azerbaijan took part in the Olympic Games as an independent state in 1996 for the first time, and since then it has sent athletes to all Olympic Games. This has led to a desire to host the Games in the country.

As the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, noted in her speech, today in Baku a new page is being written in European Olympic movement history. "We are writing this page. The people of Azerbaijan are writing this page! May God bless Azerbaijan at all times," Mehriban Aliyeva said at the opening ceremony of the First European Games. She noted that despite its 'young age', Azerbaijan gained independence only 24 years ago, the country "has gone through progress, development and modernization". "Azerbaijan's economic stability and sustainable development has allowed us to host such a big sporting event. We prepared the Games in just two and a half years through dedication and hard work, overcoming the limitations of time. I would like to thank all those who have brought their energy, commitment and passion to make these games a reality. I would also like to thank all of our international partners, many local and international volunteers," Mehriban Aliyeva said.

As experts noted, despite the political fuss around the competitions, those who wanted to tarnish this celebration of sport could not overshadow the impression of the large-scale opening ceremony of the First European Games, which highlighted the rich history and originality of Azerbaijan, and the competitions themselves. As it should be, the adversarial, sporting spirit, the desire to win and set new records dominate there.

There is a festive and friendly atmosphere at the European Games. The interest in them is enormous. Hundreds of millions of people around the world are watching the Games. This is a truly magnificent spectacle, a feast for sports lovers. Citizens around the world are enjoying the skills of outstanding athletes and cheering for their national teams. The experts and observers noted that many European leaders didn't attend the opening of the Games. "In my opinion, this only shows that the level of sovereignty of European countries has decreased significantly in recent years. Only a few leaders can afford separate actions on certain issues without fear of displeasing the United States," the historian and a political scientist Zurab Todua told Vestnik Kavkaza.

As for the reasons for the criticism of Azerbaijan before and during the Games, Todua believes, that, apparently, some influential Western politicians do not like the fact that the leadership of Azerbaijan takes an independent position on many important and fundamental issues. "For example, the Baku government is critical of the EU program of the Eastern Partnership. This is not surprising. Everything that was promised and planned in connection with this program has not been done – just empty talk," Zurab Todua said. Meanwhile, more and more experts have come to the conclusion that this program is in danger of completely failing. The negative effects from its implementation are too serious. For example, there is in fact a civil war in Ukraine because of the conflict over the Association Agreement with the EU, essentially, although two or three years ago all this was hard to imagine. It is likely that the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow also caused the displeasure of the West. "Nevertheless, I am convinced that in spite of everything, these Games will be remembered not by the absence of any individuals (they will be forgotten in 20-30 years), but by the wonderful holiday which athletes from different states and the organizers of the competition made for us during the First European Games in 2015," Todua said.

Meanwhile, the presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived at the opening ceremony of the European Games. In addition to visiting sporting events, the heads of Russia and Turkey were able to talk tete-a-tete. The press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, noted that the leaders needed "to compare notes and exchange opinions on the complex situation in regional affairs. That's the situation in Syria, for sure."

"The course of the European Games proved once again that it is senseless and unacceptable to mix sport and politics, to try to use an outstanding sports forum for their selfish purposes," Zurab Todua told Vestnik Kavkaza.

There is no doubt that Azerbaijan, as a country which organized the First European Olympic Games, will attract the attention of the whole world, including potential new economic and investment partners. I must say that the country has noticeably changed over the last 5-7 years. This is indicated by all those who in various business or tourism purposes visit Baku and other Azerbaijani cities.

We should note that the European Games will give even greater impetus to the development of sport and tourism. More than 100,000 people from around the world will visit the country during the European Games alone, the head of the department of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Vugar Shikhamedov, said. According to him, tourists prefer to see the sights of Baku, and outside of the capital they see Gobustan, the Fire Temple Ateshgah and surrounding areas of Yanar dag mountain. The tourists also enjoy theaters. According to Shikhamedov, about 10 plays in Baku theaters have English subtitles.

But, most importantly, is the assessment of the athletes who arrived for the competitions. All of them are satisfied with the organization of events and conditions in the Olympic Village. For some of them the European Games are of particular importance because the program includes sports such as, for example, aerobics. It cannot be found in other competitions. "The first European Games are very important for us, since aerobic gymnastics is included in their program," the Italian aerobic gymnast Davide Donati said. He stressed that he has gained a lot of experience in Baku. "It is the first time I have performed at such a major competition. Azerbaijan organized the Games well and created all the conditions for the athletes," Donati said. And we can list a lot of such evidence. If athletes and sports fans are happy, this is confirmation of the fact that it's a successful holiday.