Baku 2015 successfully finalizes test events
By Nigar Orujova
Baku 2015 has completed the final sporting competitions in the Baku Prepares series of test events with the close of multi-day international Boxing and Wrestling tournaments.
Several of the sport sessions took place in front of sell-out crowds, and Azerbaijan’s athletes did not disappoint their supporters, finishing as overall medal winners in both competitions. For three nights in a row, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the ticket offices at both venues sold all the seats available for the finals.
The five-day Great Silk Way Elite Boxing Tournament was held at the Crystal Hall, which will also welcome Europe’s boxers during the Games. The international elite-level tournament was organised by the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation in cooperation with Baku 2015, and featured 83 boxers from 11 countries competing across 10 weight categories for men, and five in the women’s competition.
The Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation Cup, a four-day international freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling tournament for cadet and junior age groups, took place at the renovated Heydar Aliyev Arena. The cup was organised by the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation in cooperation with Baku 2015.
Pierce O’Callaghan, Baku 2015 Director of Sport, said: “These events were the perfect opportunity to ensure that we are 100% ready for the start of the first European Games. Both were large-scale, complex operations, similar in scope to the competitions that will take place at Baku 2015.
“I was delighted to see our operational readiness to stage a fantastic sporting display in action. Our Baku Prepares team worked hard to make sure everything was in place to allow the athletes to shine, and they responded exactly as competitors will during the Games – by delivering great performances.”
Spectators are able to purchase tickets for the Baku 2015 European Games online from the official website (www.baku2015.com/tickets), and can also buy them directly at 11 sales outlets located in convenient spots around Baku.
This year’s exciting and innovative new multi-sport event in Baku will include 20 sports, 16 of which are Olympic, during the 17 days of competition in June 12-28. 6,000 athletes will prove themselves in Azerbaijan’s capital.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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