Baku, Azerbaijan, May 27
By Jamilya Aliyeva - Trend:
First European Games is a huge and remarkable event, which will be the bright point in the history of Azerbaijan, Iraqi Ambassador to Azerbaijan Haidar Shiaa Al Barrak told Trend May 27.
He said that the Games will have positive influence on the economy of Azerbaijan, tourism, adding that many people want to come to see this event.
Azerbaijan's tourism potential is increasing as does the flow of tourists into the country. As Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfaz Garayev said at the Caspian Energy Forum - 2015, the country aims to increase the flow of tourists by 30-40 percent within several years. Garayev said Azerbaijan plans to be receiving some 5 million of tourists annually by 2020.
"I'm sure that Azerbaijan will succeed in hosting this international event and taking care of the guests from EU," said Iraqi Ambassador to Azerbaijan Haidar Shiaa Al Barrak.
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.