Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
The First European Games will boost Azerbaijan's tourism sector not only during the event, but in the future as well, former US deputy assistant secretary of state told Trend May 4.
David Merkel, former US deputy assistant secretary of state, managing director of Summit International Advisors organization said Baku is a very exciting city for holding the 1st European Games.
Anybody who has visited Baku wants to come here again, he said, adding that atheletes from many different countries and their fans will visit Baku duing the Games.
People who visit Baku during the First European Games will come back here with their families and it will have a big impact on tourism, he added.
Baku 2015 is the first-ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent that 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.
Edited by CN