Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The construction of an Olympic stadium in Baku will be completed by late February 2015, a senior engineer at Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR told the local press on August 23.

The groundbreaking of the Olympic stadiums in 2011 was attended by President Ilham Aliyev, FIFA President Joseph Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini. The construction work is due to be completed by 2015, in time for the inaugural European Olympic Games, which will take place in Azerbaijan.

Tural Ramazanov, Chief Engineer of Regional Social Projects Provision Department of SOCAR, said that the operations are ongoing in accordance with the plan.

"The earthwork within the framework of the construction began in November last year. At present, the works are completed by 90 percent and the earthworks have been carried out in the volume of 6.5 million cubic meters. Currently reinforced concrete work is underway at the stadium," Ramazanov said.

According to him, the stadium will consist of four areas, including the two upper zones with six-storey stands, and the two bottom ones with three-storey stands. Concrete works are continuing.

"There are some 1,720 bored piles under the foundation, and the construction of the foundation has been completed. In total, some 350,000 cubic meters of concrete are supposed to be used, 235,000 cubic meters of which have already been used. Some 52,500 tons of reinforcement will be used in the construction, and 41,000 tons have already been used," Ramazanov said.

According to Ramazanov, the bottom, facade and roof of the stands will consist of iron constructions, and some 19,000 tons of iron will be used in the course of the construction operations.

"Nearly 300 pieces of equipment are operated at the site: nine tower cranes, ten cranes of other types and other equipment. The largest crane weighs 1,200 tons, there are no similar cranes in the region, and now it is being delivered from Germany," Ramazanov said.

Ramazanov said the Olympic stadium, which is being built by the order of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Youth and Sports, is a very fast project.

According to him, the work is in full swing as some 2,200 people are engaged in the construction work and in the next two months the number of workers will reach 2,500-2,600.

He said it will be possible to enter the stadium through four gates, and 26 gates will serve as entrances to the stands.

Regarding car parking, Ramazanov said that according to Olympic standards, people mostly have to come to the stadium on foot or arrive by public transport, therefore, a car park with 3,500-4,000 parking spaces is being built. He noted that the Olympic Stadium will seat 68,700 spectators.

Moreover, Olympic Village occupying space of 382,397 square meters will be available at the inaugural European Games in Baku's Nizami district close to the main facilities intended for holding the Games -- the Olympic Stadium, Water Sports Center, the gymnastics complex and the airport.

Azerbaijan is also bidding to host the European Football Championship in 2020, and the Olympic stadium as well as the overhauled stadium named after Tofig Bahramov will be capable to host the tournament.