Manuela Harant, Süd-West-Presse
The first European Games which are organized by the European Olympic Committee will take place in Azerbaijan in 2015. After that they will repeat every 4 years like the traditional Olympics.
Asian residents have the Asian Games; those who live in the Americas have the Pan-American Games. Finally Europeans will have an opportunity to enjoy the European Games on June 12-28th, 2015. The host, Baku (Azerbaijan), has made two requests to hold the Olympic Games (2016 and 2020), but didn’t win. And now it will welcome the European Games. Azerbaijan is sure that the first European Continental Games held according to Olympic standards will be successful. The sporting facilities and the concept of the Games have already been presented to officials of various countries. The European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship which took place in Baku was a favorable background for this.
At the same time, the National Olympic Committee is treating the historic European Games as if these were the real Olympic Games. One can see flags with the Games’ logo everywhere. The Olympic village, which can be compared to a complex of palaces, is 90% complete, as are the majority of sporting facilities.
Wealthy Baku demonstrates what it has due to intensive oil production: all sporting and infrastructure facilities are situated no farther than 10 km from the city center. The Olympic stadium for 65 thousand spectators is situated near the Olympic village.
Moreover, the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan assured participants of the Games that they wouldn’t spend anything on the European Games. Azerbaijan intends not only to provide participants with accommodation and sports equipment, but also round-trip-tickets, according to the Minister of Sport, Azad Ragimov.
To make sure that high-class world athletes will take part in the European Games, the EOC and the IOC will issue direct licenses for the Olympic Games 2016 in three disciplines: shooting, table tennis and triathlon. As for track and field athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, swimming and taekwondo, the athletes will get world rating points for them.
That’s why the German Olympic Committee (DOSB) decided to sent its teams to Baku. There were a lot of discussions on the issue, according to DOSB Director General Michael Wesper.
The European Games don’t want to be compared with their “big brother” and are trying to build their own image. “We want innovations,” the chief of the organization committee Hiki says. “Competitions between healthy people and disabled persons will take place simultaneously.” Non-Olympic kinds of sport, such as beach football, street-ball (basketball for 3 people in a team), should make the tournament modern.
As for the next host of the European Games, the problem should be settled by the end of 2014. The European Games will be promoted by the best international specialists to avoid the fate of the Youth Games-1988 in Moscow, as they had never been held again. The organizing committee of the 2012 London Olympic Games is helping Azerbaijan in the preparations.
Major sponsors - Procter & Gamble and British Petroleum – are ready to support the Games. Even today, looking at shining Baku, it is clear that the capital on the Caspian seashore will provide the European audience with thrilling pictures. The rest will be done by sport.
