Baku, Azerbaijan, June 10
Trend:
Azerbaijan is capable of delivering very high level major international sport events, Simon Clegg, Baku 2015 chief operating officer said in an interview with Reuters.
The European Games will provide the momentum for the first major continental multi-sports event to establish itself in the international sports calendar, he said.
Preparations for the Games, which are not too far removed in size from the summer Olympics, were completed in under three years when Olympic hosts have a seven-year organization time, according to Clegg.
New, state-of the-art stadiums dot the capital, he added.
Clegg said the second edition of the European Games to be held in the Netherlands in 2019 would benefit from the Azerbaijani capital's experience.
"The big winner, though, even before the Games start, looks to be Azerbaijan as it eyes a possible summer Olympics bid," said Clegg.
Baku will host a number of sports events in coming years.
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.