Baku 2015: final countdown
By Nigar Orujova
Following months of intense preparations, Azerbaijan is fully ready to host the first ever European Games. "Baku is ready to meet all its guests," Azerbaijan’s Sport Minister Azad Rahimov said in Baku on June 2.
Ten days are left before the historic event - June 12, when Baku will become the first European capital to host the Games.
The torch of Baku 2015 has already visited 55 locations in Azerbaijan bringing joy to thousands of Azerbaijanis across the country. The Flame will travel the regions only to return back to Baku.
"The Journey of the Flame has brought the spirit of Baku 2015 into the hearts of Azerbaijanis throughout the country. It has built anticipation and excitement ahead of this defining moment for Azerbaijan and will now involve the Baku public in the magic of the first European Games," Rahimov said, adding that in Baku, over 150 people will carry the torch.
Over 1,000 torchbearers, selected for their importance to local communities and service to sport, have been chosen for the honor of carrying the European Games Torch.
The Baku 2015 team revealed that the torch will come to Baku on a cruiser through the Caspian Sea on June 7. Following, the Flame will visit the National Seaside Boulevard, Oil Workers Avenue, the National Flag Square, to finally make its way to the iconic Maiden Tower, in the heart of the city.
The Flame will visit the nine venues of the Games on June 8. Baku 2015 torch will arrive to the Old City on June 9, and the following day it will visit the capital's central streets and parks, and then again back to Baku port.
“Our wonderful host city of Baku is everything we could have asked for as organizers of this new continental-scale event," said Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015. "The passion and energy of its people, and their enthusiasm for these historic first European Games will be captured perfectly by the celebrations that will take place here during the Journey of the Flame.”
The inaugural competition for the continent, Baku 2015 European Games will gather 6,000 athletes from 50 countries for 17 days to compete in 20 sports.
The next European Games which will be held in 2019 will be hosted by the Netherlands in several cities across the country.
"We would like to see the torch of the Games lit in Baku in the near future. Azerbaijan as a host country of the first European Games is ready to take on that burden again in the years to come," the minister said.
The minister further noted that according to preliminary information, some 30 heads of states will attend the opening ceremony in Baku and the Games will be broadcasted around the world.
An estimated 140 countries will broadcast the Games. The event will also be streamed live on baku2015.com and YouTube. Meanwhile, Europe-wide TV and digital advertising campaign, ‘Rise to the Occasion’, will reach a potential audience of 380 million viewers.
About 1,500 media representatives have obtained accreditation for the Games. Those journalists, who were not able to undergo the accreditation process, can watch the Games in the usual way - by purchasing tickets.
Simon Clegg, in turn, said the sale of tickets for the competitions of the Games is now successfully underway.
"Judging by the number of tickets sold for the opening ceremony of the first European Games in Baku, the stadium will be crowded. More than 80 percent of all tickets have been sold already for the opening ceremony. The sale of tickets is still ongoing and interest has been growing.
“In particular, tickets are selling well in those sports competitions Azerbaijan expects a lot from: wrestling, boxing, and gymnastics. I am sure that all tickets will be sold out completely," said Clegg.
As the opening ceremony of the first European Games draws closer, the city is getting ready. As the campaign moves to Games-time look, thousands of bespoke elements have come together to create a striking overall impression. Over 50,000 billboards, banners, flags and details are now adorning the city.
The city is now also home to 995 aubergine-colored London cabs, each featuring the Baku 2015 brand property, as well as 18 hand-painted statues of mascots Jeyran and Nar.
With all these preparations the Games has no other option but be a success.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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