Azad Ragimov: “We will be able to introduce our region to Olympic values”

Azerbaijan presented its application for holding the Summer Olympic Games 2020. The executive director of the ‘Baku-2020’ Organizing Committee Kenyul Nurulayeva and Azerbaijan’s Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Azad Ragimov predicted prospects of Baku in interview to VK.

- Could you point out the strong and the weak aspects of this candidature?

Kenyul Nurulayeva: We believe in our success. We have both strong and weak points, like all the other candidates, but we have many more strong points. If we compare this application to the one we made for the 2016 games – it was the first time we made such an application – we have improved our position since then. We have a lot of advantages. Azerbaijan is a Caucasian country and it would be the first time that the Olympics are held on the Caucasus. It would be a unique event not only for Azerbaijan, but for the whole region. And we possess a stable economy, which is a great pro-argument. Knowing all these facts, we are sure that we’ll succeed, we are sure that our application will be the one to win.

- Does the fact that the application was submitted personally the First Lady of Azerbaijan increase the application’s chances of being chosen?

Kenyul Nurulayeva: The state supports the application, and it is very important by itself. You know that the International Olympic Committee attributes a great deal of importance to the support of an application by the state administration and by the people of the country that submitted it. The application is made not for the sake of the organizing committee, but for the sake of the people of the country, of the region. So if a state and a people supports an application, it’s a good argument to accept the application or the Committee. 95% of Azerbaijanis support the application for the Baku Olympics, and that’s a very good result.

- When will the final decision be voiced?

Kenyul Nurulayeva: It will be voiced on May 23 in Quebec, Canada. Of course we are awaiting it with anticipation. And of course we do all we can to show the world the ways of Azerbaijan, of Baku.

Azad Ragimov:  Today we are better prepared than we were back when we were applying for the 2016 Olympics. Of course, we have corrected all the previous mistakes, especially those touching upon the placement of sporting clusters. Today, the line formed from the airport to the Primorskiy Boulevard, where all Olympic facilities are to be constructed, answers all the requirements of the Olympic Committee. It will be convenient for both sportsmen and the spectators. And it is our main advantage. And of course, we have a rapidly growing economy. The major progress Baku has made after our previous application is obvious. No matter the success of our application, we’ve decided to build an Olympic stadium for 80,000 spectators, an Aquatic center for 15,000 viewers, a center for gymnastics, a center for judo, boxing and wrestling. 33 Olympic centers have been opened in the regions of or country. And this is a solid foundation for Olympic and sporting progress in Azerbaijan in general. We hope we will be able to introduce our region to Olympic values and make our youth interested in sports.

- The state allocates major sums of money to sports development, supports sportsmen. This year there will be Olympic Games in London. What is your prognosis for the possible distribution of medals?

Azad Ragimov: It is a very tricky thing, to make such prognoses. But I’ll give you some statistical data: Azerbaijan won 1 medal in Atlanta, 3 in Sydney, 5 in Athens, 7 in Beijing. SO you see we ought to get at least 9, or maybe even 14 medals this time.