Baku hopes that the first European Games, which took place in the Azerbaijani capital from 12 to 28 June, will contribute to the development of the tourism sector of Azerbaijan. The opening ceremony of the First European Games was broadcast in 93 countries. Over a billion people watched it. According to Google, in the past year 33 million people read information about Azerbaijan, 70% of them searched this information before the Games. The head of the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Vugar Shihammedov, made a statement in an interview to Trend: "Athletes, journalists and other foreign visitors were also potential tourists. Those who have already left and those who are still in the country are very impressed with Azerbaijan, our hospitality, people’s cordiality. I believe that the successful results of this will be seen at the end of the year at the time of the beginning of the winter tourist season, or the next summer season.’’
The Director of the Institute of Political Studies, member of the Public Chamber Sergey Markov, spoke in an interview to Vestine Kavkaza that the European Games in Baku were brilliant, "I headed the Russian delegation of 75 people, which included the State Duma, the Federation Council, the Public Chamber, the expert community, the journalistic community and public figures, athletes. We watched the opening ceremony and all the members of our delegation were impressed by several circumstances."
Sergey Markov named the following circumstances.
First. It was a great and very beautiful event.
Secondly. From the organizational point of view, Azerbaijan held the games brilliantly and showed its ability to carry out such major international events.
Thirdly. We were all impressed by Baku. "This is truly the crossroads of Eurasia, where you can see a lot of customs, a lot of cultures. Now tradition and ultra-modernity are tied together. In fact, Baku is a museum under the open sky, which is interesting for tourists. I am sure that after these Games a huge number of tourists will travel to Baku.’’
Markov was impressed how the Azerbaijani people were welcoming the Russian delegation: ‘‘People clapped louder only the national teams of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Besides, Russian athletes won so often that probably the whole of Azerbaijan has already learned the Russian national anthem. When our delegation was walking along the streets, on the boulevard, on the waterfront with the Russian flag, we were very warmly welcomed in Baku. People shouted "Russia!" "Russia is the champion!" "Russia and Azerbaijan". And it was a very warm expression of friendship."
The Russian expert expressed hope that the European Games will become a tradition: "Many EU countries are trying to politicize the process. They even tried to boycott it at the level of participation of administrative and political figures. But I believe that this format should be maintained and developed. I think you need to save them not as the European sports games, but transform them into the European sports and cultural games. Thus, it can return us to the format which existed in ancient Greece, when not only runners and wrestlers took part in the Olympic Games, but rhetoricians, dancers, singers. They participated in philosophical discussions."
Markov is sure that sports and cultural European Games would be in demand among European society. He suggested organizing the second European Games in Baku once again: "But we should make them an example of sports and cultural games. I'm sure that, after this, a lot of countries will be willing to hold the Games. Azerbaijan will always be their ancestor. Then, the ideal of all-round development of the personality materializes within the framework of sport and cultural diversity, which is so necessary for modern society."
