European Olympic Games organizing committee set up
By Nigar Orujova
The organizing committee of the first-ever European Olympic Games has been established in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani capital Baku will host the European Olympic Games in 2015, in accordance with a decision taken by the 41st General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in Rome in December 2012.
Baku was selected as host city for the Games after the Europe NOCs voted by secret ballot with an overwhelming majority of 38 voting in favor, eight against and two abstaining.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on establishing the Organizing Committee on January 17, AzerTag state news agency reported.
According to the decree, Mehriban Aliyeva, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation President, Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee Executive Committee member and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, was appointed the chairperson of the Committee.
Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Ministry and the Baku City Executive Power jointly with the National Olympic Committee are entrusted to develop and submit a special action plan for holding the Games to the Organizing Committee.
The Organizing Committee was instructed to address issues related to holding the first European Olympic Games in Baku in 2015. The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to resolve the issues reflected in the decree.
European Olympic Games in Baku are expected to be an historic event. Congratulating Azerbaijani people on this occasion, President Ilham Aliyev noted that though only two years are left until the tournament, Azerbaijan will organize this remarkable event on the highest level.
According to Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov, new sports facilities will be constructed in preparation for holding the Games in Baku.
According to preliminary data, Azerbaijan will receive 120-130 million euros from sponsors, ticket sales and broadcasting rights for the first-ever EOG, Rahimov said.
He added that Azerbaijan has all the broadcasting rights, to be sold to the European Broadcasting Union for at least 40-50 million euros.
Around 20 international sports federations have confirmed their participation at the EOG, Rahimov told media.
"All federations have verbally confirmed their participation," Rahimov added. "We are waiting for a written confirmation and signing of agreements with each of them."
A beach volleyball complex on Baku Boulevard, a seaside park in the city center, is planned to be built before the Games, along with a rugby stadium, a water polo complex and infrastructure for canoe racing, Rahimov said.
Exact dates of the tournament have not yet been scheduled, but the Games will presumably take place in late spring or early summer.
The European Olympic Games are intended not to copy the international Olympic Games, but to become an alternative and enlarged sporting event running in parallel with the Pan-American, Pan-Asian and All African Games and supposed to be held every four years. Some 7,000-15,000 sportsmen from the 49 European Olympic Committee member states are expected to take part in the Games.