Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 6
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
There is no doubt Baku will deliver excellent games, history being created not only for Azerbaijan, but also for the European sport, the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Coordination Commission's Chair Spyros Capralos said speaking about the European Games to be held in Baku on June 12-28.
He made the remarks at a press conference in Baku on Feb. 6.
"I think we will have a fantastic opening ceremony and great games," Capralos further said.
In his speech, Capralos thanked everyone who works on the preparations for the European Games.
"The coordination commission visited the European games park and saw how in a very short time so much work has been accomplished," Capralos said, adding that the preparations for the games have advanced since the last time.
"We will have the visits of smaller groups, more technical visits because we need to focus on the details," he added. "Now the focus should be changed and turned to testing the readiness. The European Olympic Committees is offering full support to this."
Capralos also praised the Baku Shooting Center, saying that in his opinion it is the best such center in the world today.
"It will not be just the games, but be a legacy for the country," Capralos further said.
Capralos went on to add that after the games Azerbaijan will be able to bid for other major multi-sport events.
He said the games will be a great legacy for Azerbaijan in terms of infrastructure, but more importantly, the human factor - the people who are working in the organizing committee and people who are volunteers, suppliers, constructors and people who are dealing with these games.
"Everybody here in Azerbaijan will benefit from these games," Capralos stressed.
He also said the experience in holding the Olympic Games was employed in the preparations for the European Games.
"But we took some things and made them more flexible," Capralos added. "We selected the sports according to the needs of the organizer, according the venues which they have."
Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place from 12 - 28 June 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.