The weather is changing in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. The city has entered winter. But the mood remains the same in the preparation for the first European Games in history, scheduled for June 12 to 28, 2015. A mixture of serenity and impatience. Baku received, Thursday February 5 and Friday February 6, the 5th and final visit of the coordination commission (our photo) of the Association of European Olympic Committees (EOC). A commission led vigorously by the Greek Spyros Capralos. And notably composed of Denis Masseglia, the president of the CNOSF, and the Belgian Jean-Michel Saive, member of the ANOC athletes' commission.
In two days of visits and meetings, the delegates were able to verify once again what they observed from their first stay in the Azeri capital: everything will be ready in time for these first European Games. And everything should be grand. Patrick Hickey, the president of the EOC, can brandish his figures with pride: 6.000 athletes, 20 sports, including 11 where the Baku Games will participate directly or indirectly in the qualification process for the Rio Olympics in 2016, 600 media foreigners expected to cover the event. “Initially, we thought we would reduce the program to 10 sports, but we ended up with 20. And we refused 6,” emphasizes Patrick Hickey.
Just over 120 days before the opening, the European Games provided television coverage in 133 territories. “With an average of 5 hours of broadcast per day,” explains Simon Clegg, head of the organizing committee (BEGOC). It remains to find a retransmission agreement with a British channel. But discussions are progressing, we assure you in Baku. A contract with an American broadcaster is also said to be close to being signed.
Over the past two days, the EOC Coordination Commission has been able to take a partial tour of the facilities. A walk in the future European Games park, a discovery of the swimming pool, a detour to the Velopark where the mountain bike events will take place, a visit to the shooting range. Confident comment from Spyros Capralos: “Baku 2015 is perfectly on track to host a great Games. The organizing committee has entered the final phase of preparation. Every day counts. But the timing was respected regarding the constructions. I am very confident, everything will be perfectly ready for the opening of the European Games. »
Next steps on the calendar of the capital of Azerbaijan and the organizers: the last visit of the national Olympic committees, scheduled for February 12 to 14, then the festivities scheduled for the day of March 4, 2015, a date marking D – 100 before the opening ceremony.
