EOC says European Games in Baku are innovative

11 June 2015 16:42 (UTC+04:00)

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The first European Games to be held in Baku are innovative, said Spyros Capralos, the chairman of the Coordination Commission of the European Olympic Committee (EOC).

“We want to bring these innovations into the European sport,” he said at a press conference in Baku on June 11. “This is primarily the new disciplines, competitions on which are not held at the Olympic Games, such as karate, beach soccer, 3x3 basketball, Sambo (Russian martial art and combat sport) and a number of gymnastic disciplines.”

He said that more than 55,000 people have been already accredited for the Games.

“Just yesterday, 1,046 people arrived in Baku, and today we are expecting the arrival of another 3,700 people,” said Capralos.

The athletes are satisfied with the conditions created for them in the Athletes' Village, according to the head of the commission.

“I hear so many positive comments about the conditions established in the Athletes' Village for the first time,” he said. “Athletes even compare it to the Olympic Villages. Some standards that have been applied in our Athletes' Village are much higher.”

Capralos also touched upon the pricing policy in relation to the cost of tickets for the Games.

“Such a policy creates affordable ticket prices, and thanks to that, every resident of Baku will be able to watch the performances of the best European athletes,” said the head of the commission.

“It will become an impetus for the development of sports in the country,” he said. “Yesterday, we learned that the tickets for the opening ceremony of the first European Games were completely sold out, and I think it's a great start for the Games.”

He also praised the work of Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC).

“Preparation for the Games was not easy,” said Capralos. “For 30 months, the organizers of the European Games have done the work, which would have taken other cities a lot more time. Such experience will make it possible to carry out the other major competitions in Baku in the future, including the Olympic Games.”

Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place on June 12-28, 2015.

There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.

Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012.

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