History in the making
Baku 2015 baku2015.com
ISSUE 4 APRIL 2015
Especially produced for Baku 2015
History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
Baku Aquatics Centre
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IN THIS
ISSUE
April 2015
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Lighting the way
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Medals of substance
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Innovative ticket pricing to ensure full stadia at Baku 2015
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Flamekeepers warming to task
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Veni, vidi, vici - Azerbaijan’s First Lady spreads the message of Baku 2015 in Rome
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Baku 2015 promise not to let momentum slip in run-in to first European Games
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Baku 2015 ticket sales launched amid national celebrations
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Spreading the message
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Baku stadia represent past, present and future
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Historic agreement between UNICEF and Baku 2015 to promote young people’s sporting activity
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European Games at the heart of a new dawn for gymnastics
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History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
Lasting 48 days and visiting 61 locations, the Baku 2015 Torch Relay will inspire excitement and anticipation throughout the host nation. Nick Butler finds out more.
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From being punted along the River Cam ahead of London 2012 to visiting outer space before Sochi 2014, the Torch Relay is a major part of the build-up to any multi-sport event, enabling the host city to show the world its character and national identity. The European Games will be no different, with the Relay due to criss-cross the entire host nation, focusing on themes of “magic” and “Land of Fire”. Indeed, while the Olympic Torch is traditionally lit from the rays of the sun, the Baku version will focus on the earth, which is, after all, the source of Azerbaijan’s vast oil and gas wealth. Continuing a theme also explored by the Games mascots, the Torch itself will depict a pomegranate on a branch. The upper edge will extenuate the Flame, while the inner section will be inspired by the fruit which holds symbolic importance in Azerbaijan, with a “Pomegranate Festival” even held every October in Goychay. Inside the inner section of the Torch will be 50 holes - one for each of the nations set to compete in Baku. The design was inspired by traditional metal work in Azerbaijan. As befitting a Games seeking to blend international and local flavours, the Torch will be designed by contemporary Azerbaijani art collective, Yarat, who will work in conjunction with British-based industrial designer Sebastian Bergne. It will then be manufactured by Australian company FCT Flames, who also made Torches for the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games, as well as at the Doha 2006 Asian Games. The director of the Torch Relay, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, will be Catherine Ugwu, the Briton who served as executive producer of the Ceremonies at London 2012. She has been involved in preparations over the last 12 months and forms part of a strong delegation of London 2012 veterans among the Baku organisers. But, rather than go down the London route or try to replicate Sochi 2014 by visiting outer space, the North Pole or even the world’s deepest lake, the Baku 2015 Torch Relay will explore all that Azerbaijan has to offer. “There will be surprises and secrets along the way, but the tone is about ‘magic’ and the ‘Land of Fire’,” Ugwu told insidethegames, adding: “Multi-sport Games are awarded to a city but the whole country has to mobilise, and the Torch Relay is a way to recognise that contribution as well as to build excitement and momentum.” The Torch will be lit on April 26 at Ateshgah, an ancient fire temple and World Heritage site around 30 kilometres from Baku, where fire has burnt from the ground for thousands of years. At this major tourist attraction, the Torch will be lit from the “eternal Flame” in front of a small audience of invited guests in a Ceremony set to be broadcast across Azerbaijan. From there 60 locations will be visited, all in the host nation, with the Torch due to arrive in the capital on June 7 for a five-day programme before the Opening Ceremony at the Baku National Stadium on June 12. In 45 of the 60 locations, there will be a short run with the
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Torch, plus a daytime Welcome Ceremony, where it will be welcomed by either the governor or Mayor of the town. In the other 15, there will be a short Torch run followed by an evening “Festival of Fire”, consisting of a fire show and a selection of local performances. The torch will come within an hour’s travelling time of 99 per cent of the population and, as well as towns and cities, areas of cultural and historical significance will be visited, along with the canoe sprint venue in Mingachevir, 270 km to the west of Baku. A diverse mix of people will carry the Torch during its journey, with each location nominating bearers who have a strong connection with the local community. Unsurprisingly, organisers are remaining tight-lipped about who will actually light the Flame in Ateshgah, although we have been promised someone “well-known and popular throughout Azerbaijan”. “I think people are excited,” Ugwu added. “We’ve visited all the cities that the Torch will visit and everyone seems full of anticipation. People have fully embraced the idea of the Games.” Alongside the Torch, Baku 2015 Lamps will also be produced. They will be lit as part of the city celebrations and left in each location, with each city having been asked to keep the Lamps lit until the Closing Ceremony. These Lamps will not only light the way to the Games, but will be gifted to each city in memory of the landmark event and will hopefully stay there later, a memory for the whole country in what will be a seminal moment in the 24-year history of the host nation.
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It will be designed by local art collective Yarat in The Torch will be lit on con junction with BritishApril 26 at the ancient based industrial designer fire temple in Ateshgah Sebastian Bergne ay tions on a 48-d a c lo 1 6 of it e is em v th l l e Th iva It wil ng with its arr the ti a in lm u c the Relay will r u r to al Stadium fo be “magic” and at the Nation mony on June 1 2 “Land of Fire” Opening Cere A Festival of Fire w be held in 15 of th ill locations, consistine of fire shows and log cal performers People representing a diverse mix of ages, gend er and demograph ic groups will carry the Torch
Commemorative Baku 20 15 Lamps will be left at each of the venues visited, remaining lit for the duration of the Games
The Flame will be the firs t time by a lit for mys tery person w kn own in Azerbai jaelln
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History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
Medalsof
substance
Medals to be awarded at the European Games have been designed by an Azerbaijani artist, and will weigh 380 grams. Michael Pavitt finds out what the continent’s top athletes can expect to have placed around their necks if they are lucky enough to be among the winners. As Europe’s top athletes count down the days until the inaugural European Games begin in Baku on June 12, the hours they spend training ahead of the competition will be centred on a sole objective - to head to Azerbaijan’s capital in the best possible condition in order to add a medal to their country’s tally. With competition to be part of one of the 253 medal ceremonies at the Games set to be fierce, the medals need to have the significance to match the athletes’
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commitment and dedication to claiming one of the precious pieces of metal. Baku 2015 certainly feel that they have produced medals worth striving for, with James Macleod, Director of Athlete Services and Operations, pointing to the weight of a medal as a starting point, with each one set to weigh in at 380 grams. “We were keen to make the medals quite imposing, in terms of size and weight,” Macleod said. “They are not as heavy as the recent Olympic Games
medals, but one of the things we have always heard from athletes is that they want to feel as though what they have won has some significance; it is not just a light medal that’s been put round their necks, but instead something quite imposing.” While trying to craft something of substance, Baku 2015 have also focused on producing a unique design that represents the capital city and Azerbaijan as a whole. To achieve this, Adamas, Russia’s largest
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jewellery manufacturers, which produced the medals for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, were commissioned to design those of the first European Games. They worked in collaboration with Azerbaijani artist Nargiz Huseynova and, following her input, aimed to put all the elements that represent the country into the core design of the medals. The front will feature an abstract design which includes iconography developed in line with the decorative Baku 2015 brand imagery, with the pomegranate and stained glass shebeke, a nod towards Azerbaijan’s culture and history. The medal will also see the Baku 2015 logo placed at its heart, with the creators believing the medals they have produced to be an apt metaphor for a dynamic, cultural and decorative city, which sits in the beautiful setting of Azerbaijan. “It really represents what the Games are about; a lot of the designs that came back to us linked into the brand quite closely,” Macleod said. “What we tried to do was work with the brand; the symbolism is all in the brand, you have got the pomegranate, you have got all the different elements that
represent Baku and Azerbaijan, and it was making sure that they were all in there, alongside the logo of course.” The medals will be produced in Azerbaijan, and will also pay homage to the fact that Baku 2015 will be the inaugural European Games. The European Olympic Committees emblem will feature as the centrepiece on the reverse of the gold, silver and bronze medals, along with the inscription “1st European Games Baku 2015”. The fortunate few athletes who stand on top of the medal rostrums in June will receive medals adorned by a decorative Baku 2015 purple ribbon. The presentations are due to be held in the traditional way, akin to the Summer Olympics, whereby athletes will receive their prizes in the venue in which they triumphed. By contrast, the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics saw athletes awarded their medals in a central plaza at the close of the day. As plans for the Ceremonies have now been set out, and with the medals being produced in readiness for the Baku 2015 European Games, the focus now turns to who will win them.
Each medal will weigh 380 grams The Baku 2015 logo feat ures at the centre of the medal Symbols of Azerbaijan, such as the pomegranate and stained glass shebeke, feat ure as decorative elements
The European Olympic Committees emblem will feature on the reverse Created by Adamas, producer of the Soch i 2014 medals
A total of 253 medal ceremonies will take place throughout the Games
Presenters of the medals. Bronze: boxer and Azerbaijan Junior League champion Teymur Mammadov; Silver: Azerbaijan’s Paralympic judo champion Ilham Zekiyev; Gold: Azerbaijan Sydney 2000 gold medallist, wrestler Namiq Abdullayev.
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History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
Innovattive tickepricing to ensure
fualtl stadia
Baku 2015 President Aliyev buys the first ticket for Baku 2015
The 100 Days To Go milestone until the inaugural European Games was marked by the launch of the ticketing strategy, which allows children to attend most events for free. Mike Rowbottom discovers why it is important everyone is given the opportunity to attend the biggest event to ever be staged in Azerbaijan. 8
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Mirjam Bogataj, Head of Ticketing for the Baku 2015 European Games, has explained the strategy behind the announcement marking 100 Days To Go which offers free entry to most competition events for children and teenagers under 16. The announcement, which tied in with the unveiling of the medal design and the launch of the new-look Baku 2015 website Baku2015.com gave details of a ticketing policy for the inaugural European Games which is also geared to offering adults admission to events at affordable prices. “Our pricing policy is aiming to attract spectators to attend multiple events and discover new and less known sports and offering affordable prices for all events,” she told insidethegames. “The most prized ones will undoubtedly be the Opening and Closing Ceremony, evening and weekend sessions and of course the most popular sports in Azerbaijan: wrestling, boxing, karate and rhythmic gymnastics. “We also expect big interest for volleyball, beach volleyball, beach soccer and swimming. The affordable prices and free child policy will enable us to attract spectators to attend all the other disciplines.” Bogataj added that she expected “the majority of tickets” to be purchased by a local audience. Adult tickets for sport sessions range between AZN 2 and AZN 5 according to the competition round, for example preliminary or final, seat category, and venue seat category, and venue. Children and teenagers under 16 will benefit from complimentary admission to most venues when accompanied by an adult aged 18 and over in possession of ID and a valid ticket for the session.
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The only exceptions will be events held at the Heydar Aliyev Arena and National Gymnastics Arena, where admission for under-16s will cost just AZN 1. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies have a separate, affordable pricing scheme for spectators of all ages. Opening Ceremony seats are priced from AZN 20 with seats at the Closing Ceremony priced from AZN 10. “We will offer a number of official ticket sales channels through which people will purchase tickets for the Games,” said Bogataj. “Local and international spectators are able to buy tickets online on a first come, first-served basis, through our Baku 2015 ticket sales website hosted on Baku2015.com. “Twelve prime location City Ticket Outlets will open in April 2015, and we will have Venue Ticket Box Offices during the Games at all competition venues for the last moment ticket sales.” Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, commented on the 100 Days To Go milestone: “I am very proud of our ticketing policy announced today, which
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will allow us to share the experience of the European Games competitions with the widest possible audience, including families. Baku 2015 is focused on Europe’s athletes and their commitment to sporting excellence, and bringing the inspiration they provide to the public.” Paul Williamson, in charge of ticketing at the London 2012 Olympics, said last year that in ticketing there was no good news, only bad news or no news. Asked if she could understand his feelings, Bogataj responded: “I understand his feeling very well! An international sporting event can be organised perfectly, but without spectators it would be unsuccessful. The sale and distribution of tickets to ensure high occupancy levels at all sessions in all venues will be a key element in ensuring the success of the Games. “The ticketing process will be crucial to how the general public, spectators, the TV audience and stakeholders will perceive the value of the event and the organisation of the Games. It is critical that the sale and distribution of tickets are perceived as efficient, fair and equitable.”
Asked whether she had found previous models of ticketing, such as at London 2012, helpful, the Head of Ticketing added: “It’s always useful having the possibility to benchmark different ticketing models, but the most important factor for the success of the ticketing strategy is trying to understand the local environment, mentality and habits, and to analyse the results of previous events held in the specific country.” A sign-up page was launched in October last year for fans to register their interest in purchasing tickets. The website allowed international and Azerbaijani supporters to request ticketing updates on the sports programme, as well as to receive all the latest news from Baku 2015. Those who registered have been the first to receive updates as the countdown to the Games continues. The ticket sales website was developed and implemented by Baku 2015 Official Ticketing System and Services Provider Tickethour, which is also an Official Supporter of the Games.
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History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
Thousands of enthusiastic young volunteers will soon be taking to the streets of Baku in their colourful specially-designed uniforms to welcome the world to the European Games. Daniel Etchells finds out more. The budding Baku 2015 Flamekeepers are entering a crucial phase on their journey to the start of the inaugural European Games, as they build on their selection as volunteers with a pre-event training course. Having completed the online application form and successfully navigated their way through the interview stage, more than 18,000 participants are now in the process of undertaking their training programmes, ensuring their readiness for the start of the multisport extravaganza on June 12. The name ‘Flamekeepers’ reflects the volunteers’ central role in promoting the spirit of the event, and is also a homage to Azerbaijan - the Land of Fire - and the passion and warmth of its people. Working in a variety of areas - such as administration, communications, competition support and language services - the Flamekeepers will be primed to fulfil their duties, while acquiring new skills and knowledge that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. As well as being given the opportunity to enhance their professional skills, working at the Games will provide the Flamekeepers with the chance to develop new friendships and networks, and, where applicable, develop their English language proficiency. “Our Flamekeepers will provide not only essential services for our guests and spectators, but will also make our Games uniquely Azerbaijani, celebrating the city of Baku and the culture of Azerbaijan, and warmly welcoming and hosting the many guests
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that will visit Azerbaijan this June,” said Sharon McMichael, Director of Workforce, Uniforms and Accreditations at the Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee. “Measuring the Games’ success also extends to July 2015 and beyond - our training programme will leave a human legacy for the Baku 2015 Games, with a generation who have been inspired to volunteer for the very first time.” A Flamekeeper orientation session - an informative and entertaining evening for more than 4,000 volunteers - was held in February at the newly-refurbished Heydar Aliyev Arena, which will host the sambo, judo and wrestling competitions. The session served as a starting point for the European Games’ volunteer training programme and activities, which will shortly be getting underway ahead of the Baku 2015 Opening Ceremony, and also featured a video about the uniform production process. Training for all Flamekeepers is split into three distinct areas common role, role-specific and venue-specific - and will be delivered by a mixture of professional trainers, subject matter experts, and workforce and operational managers. Common role training will outline the journey of the volunteers, give them background to the values of the European Games and inform them of what to expect from the experience. The Flamekeepers will also learn about venue operations and other critical elements, such as their transportation, accreditation and uniforms, before being trained on how to perform their individual roles. The timing and duration of the role-specific training will vary based on the complexity and criticality of the position, with some volunteers requiring numerous sessions over a period of months and others learning over a shorter length of time closer to the Games. The number of hours dedicated to venue-specific training is also
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dependent on the role, but will essentially cover important emergency information, health and safety, and will give the Flamekeepers the opportunity to meet the venue team and see their all-important place of work. BEGOC is working closely with educational establishments to ensure the Flamekeepers are able to balance their academic requirements with their volunteer responsibilities, and are offering sessions during weekdays, evenings and weekends. Training will predominantly take place at the European Games’ Workforce Centre, which is colocated with the Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre, however many other venues, such as the Athletes’ Village and the Baku 2015 headquarters, will host sessions over several months. Uniforms will be distributed through the UAC from mid-April, when the Flamekeepers will collect their accreditation passes before trying their uniforms on for size and selecting the items suitable for them. A total of 950 factory workers have been tasked with manufacturing the seven different types of uniform for the inaugural European Games. The facility responsible for the production of 110,000 polo shirts and tee-shirts across a 16-week period is the Gilan Textile Park, a state-of-theart factory, in the Azerbaijani city of Sumqayit. Several elements of the Baku 2015 brand feature on the uniforms, such as shebeke, an ancient vitrage craft work seen as Azerbaijan’s answer to stained glass, on the men’s tee-shirts. The pomegranate tree, a symbol of unity in Azerbaijani folklore, can be found on the women’s tee-shirts with historical symbols of the country’s heritage and culture interwoven between the branches, as well as eye-catching pictograms of the different sports and disciplines. “When you think back to previous Games, one of the main things that people remember is the volunteers; their smile, how happy and helpful
A total of 18,000 Flamekeepers will undergo training ahead of the Games, the majority of whom will be Azerbaijani nationals aged between 18 and 24 There are a total of 124 different Flamekeeper roles, working across 30 different functions
ill Games-time sh ifts w eight n typically last betwee and 12 hours 30,000 members of the Gamestime workforce will be supplied with a uniform The Gilan Textile Park will produce 110,000 uniform items for the Flamekeepers to wear
There are 950 workers based at the Gilan Textile Park, where the uniforms are being produced they were,” added McMichael. “Obviously the uniform doesn’t make the volunteer, but it does eventually become synonymous with them, and is a unique product which recognises and rewards the volunteer’s contribution to the Games. “From the start of June, the city will be full of the Baku 2015 uniforms and that’s when the excitement starts to build and people know that something special is coming. “For the volunteers themselves it’s something tangible that they can take away with them and show to their grandchildren in years to come. It’s nice to know that something we’ve created will hold so many memories.”
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History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
Veni, vidi, vici - Azerbaijan’s First Lady spreads the message of Baku 2015 in Rome Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Lady of Azerbaijan, has travelled thousands of miles during a hectic schedule to promote the first-ever European Games, with Rome the latest destination on her tour, and London to follow. Liam Morgan tries to keep up. As the Baku 2015 European Games loom ever larger on the horizon, the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, has continued to undertake her incredibly beneficial promotional work by spreading the event’s message across the continent. The First Lady, Chair of the Baku 2015 Organising Committee, attended numerous events towards the end of last year - in Berlin, Paris, Athens, Cannes and Istanbul - in order to raise the profile of the inaugural European Games, which begin on June 12 and run through to June 28. Following on from her visits to several countries throughout Europe in the latter part of 2014, the First Lady has continued that theme in 2015, firstly by attending a dinner in the Italian capital of Rome, held to mark 100 days until the European Games get underway. The First Lady addressed notable attendees, which included European Olympic Committees President Patrick
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Hickey, Italian Minister of Education, Universities and Research Stefania Giannini, and President of the Italian National Olympic Committee Giovanni Malago, at the high-level Ceremony at Italy’s National Gallery of Modern Art, delivering an inspiring speech to mark the illustrious date in the build-up to the Games. The First Lady was presented with a small keepsake from President Hickey, who himself offered a glowing testimony of the First Lady’s drive to ensure Europe’s first-ever continental Games are acclaimed as a huge success. As well as the speeches and recognition of the First Lady’s perennial efforts, guests at the dinner were treated to a promotional Baku 2015 video, and were able to view the “We Together” exhibition, which features 20 sculptures related to sports due to be staged at Baku 2015, and was available to view at several of the promotional visits last year. The glittering event in Rome, also
attended by members of the Italian public, political and cultural figures, and members of the international sporting community, was another example of the tireless work being undertaken by the First Lady as the build-up to the inaugural European Games enters the final stretch. Events organised by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which is led by the First Lady, were staged in cities including Budapest and Bucharest earlier this year, presenting Baku 2015 to dignitaries and other leading figures. Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov has also participated in promoting the Games internationally, holding a press conference in Moscow recently. Similar presentations are due to take place in London, and at another event in Moscow. As the build-up to the European Games intensifies, rest assured the First Lady will continue to be the ever-present driving force behind Baku 2015.
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Baku 2015 promise not to let momentum slip in run-up to first European Games There was nothing but praise for the organisers of Baku 2015 at the end of the fifth and final EOC Coordination Commission visit, but officials know they have to keep the pace high right until the end. Duncan Mackay reports from Baku. There was no air of celebration as the European Olympic Committees Coordination Commission delivered its verdict at the end of its fifth and final visit to Baku before the Games open on June 12, even though it was overwhelmingly positive. “Baku 2015 is on track to deliver an outstanding inaugural European Games,” Spyros Capralos, Chairman of the EOC Coordination Commission, said at the conclusion of the two-day visit on February 6. “BEGOC is entering the final phase of preparations now, and every day counts. But they have delivered on all their construction targets so far and I am very confident that Baku will be ready in good time. “In addition, these Games will be innovative, which will act as a great blueprint to guide future European Games host cities. I am very much looking forward to coming back in June for the Baku 2015
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Opening Ceremony.” Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports and Chief Executive of Baku 2015, is determined that his team - which now numbers more than 1,500, and continues to grow will not let the pace slip in the home straight, however. “We now have a little more than four months until the Opening Ceremony,” he said. “There remains much to do, but the momentum we have built will not falter for a second. “We will spare no effort in ensuring that the first European Games are an inspirational celebration of sport and friendship for the whole continent.” Members of the EOC Coordination Commission, a high-level body of delegates charged with overseeing progress towards the inaugural European Games, received a full briefing on preparations for Baku 2015 during their visit. They received updates from senior members of the Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee, took a tour along the Games Route Network and visited a number of venues, including the Baku Shooting Centre, Mountain Bike Velopark, Heydar Aliyev Arena, and a drive-by of the European Games Park. They also attended the opening of the
Baku 2015 Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre, where participants in the Flamekeepers volunteer programme will register and collect their uniforms. “This EOC visit to Baku ahead of the first European Games has confirmed that the city is fully prepared to host an unforgettable event,” said Patrick Hickey, President of the EOC. “To have achieved so much in two years is a testament to Azerbaijan’s dedication to hosting the Games, and Europe’s athletes and sport fans will be delighted with the high standard of venues and facilities which await them. Baku 2015 will be the perfect launch-pad for the European Games.” Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, echoed Minister Rahimov’s promise that they will keep pushing until they have crossed the finishing line however. “The Games will be a historic occasion for Azerbaijan and Europe, and we intend to continue working hard to deliver on our commitment to stage a world-class event until the very last guest leaves after the Closing Ceremony,” he said.
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Baku 2015 ticke amid nationa History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
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et sales launched al celebrations
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History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
Jade Jones
Taekwondo
Katie Taylor Boxing
e g a s s e m e h t g in d a e r p S Olympic medallists and local celebrities have joined forces to help share the message of the European Games. Michael Pavitt discovers who they are. International Athlete Ambassadors will play a vital role in publicising and promoting the Baku 2015 European Games, with each of them set to become the face of the event in their respective countries ahead of the Opening Ceremony on June 12. Each selected athlete is already well-known in their homeland, having achieved success at national and international level and their accomplishments make them ideal candidates to raise the profile of the inaugural Games. The support and high-profile status of the International Athlete Ambassadors is crucial to engaging public attention across Europe and each will feature heavily in marketing campaigns, whilst also being available to the media to discuss the
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Games in Azerbaijan. Among the list of Ambassadors are British taekwondo star Jade Jones, Irish boxer Katie Taylor and French mountain bike rider Julie Bresset who all became established names after winning Olympic gold medals at London 2012. The list also includes Olympic silver medallists René Holten Poulsen, a sprint canoeist from Denmark, and Lisa Nordén, a triathlete from Sweden, as well as French rhythmic gymnast Kseniya Moustafaeva. Additionally, Serbia’s 3x3 basketball world champions and Russia’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup winners will also act as Ambassadors, with their sports added to the programme of events at the European Games. Jones became Britain’s first-ever
Olympic taekwondo champion by winning the under-57 kilogram division at London 2012, before claiming a silver medal at last year’s European Taekwondo Championships in Baku and being named the World Taekwondo Federation’s 2014 Female Player of the Year in December. “I am very proud to have been named as a Baku 2015 Athlete Ambassador, and it
Serbia’s National Team 3x3 Basketball
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of achievements. “The canoe sprint competition at Baku 2015 is sure to be a memorable occasion and it is an honour to be selected as an Ambassador for my sport for the first-ever European Games,” the Dane said. Nordén is perhaps best remembered for earning silver in the women’s triathlon at London 2012, where, despite finishing on the same time as the gold medallist Nicola Spirig of Switzerland, she was controversially denied by a photo finish in a dramatic conclusion to the race. However, Nordén earned gold at the International Triathlon Union World Championships of the same year in Auckland. With the level of elite success achieved by their Ambassadors, the European Games are sure to be well promoted, with Baku 2015 Chief Operating Officer Simon Clegg claiming: “The Ambassador Programme will see support for the inaugural European Games from highprofile athletes from around Europe as well as Azerbaijani medal hopefuls, so we are confident it will be a success.” In addition to the Olympic and world champions, the International Ambassadors also feature Moustafaeva, a bronze medallist at the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Seven non-Olympic sports and disciplines will form part of the Baku 2015 sports programme and René Holten Poulsen Canoe Sprint FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup holders Russia will also be part of
will be an honour to help promote the Games,” the 22-year-old said. “It is important for European athletes to have our own multi-sport event, and my aim is to become the first European Games taekwondo champion.” Taylor is the most decorated female boxer in history, with her major championship medal haul standing at 17 golds, including five consecutive world titles and five European gold medals in the 60kg category. Her success has made her a hugely popular figure in Ireland, particularly after winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in 16 years at London 2012, in which women’s boxing made its Olympic debut. Completing the list of reigning Olympic champions is Bresset, who stormed to gold in women’s mountain bike at London 2012, her first international title at senior level, before replicating her performance to win the world title a year later in South Africa. Poulsen is the reigning canoe sprint K1 500 metres world champion and also boasts four European titles among his list
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Kseniya Moustafaeva Rhythmic Gymnastics
the International Athlete Ambassador programme, alongside Serbia’s 2012 World Championship-winning 3x3 basketball team, in an attempt to spread news of the Games and their sports. “It is very exciting for an innovative sport like basketball 3x3 to be included in a major multi-sport event such as the European Games, and we are sure that fans will love the speed and skill of our game,” said Domović Bulut, widely viewed as one of the best players in the world. With more International Ambassadors set to be announced to publicise the European Games across the continent, Baku 2015 also has several Azerbaijani athlete and celebrity Ambassadors. Together, they are continuing to promote the Games to the host country’s population as they count down the days until the competition gets underway.
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History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
Baku stadia represent past, present and future
National Stadium
The European Games will take place in a mix of renovated stadiums, new state-of-the-art arenas and temporary facilities. They are all set to be stunning and provide the continent’s top competitors with the opportunity to shine, as Liam Morgan explains.
integral venues of the Games following its extensive renovation. Located in the City Cluster, just 20 minutes from the Athletes’ Village, the Arena will stage the judo, sambo and wrestling events at the Games, to be watched by 6,550 eager and passionate supporters. Not only does the Heydar Aliyev Arena represent a homage to one of the country’s former leaders, the venue itself is one that demonstrates the sporting prowess of the nation, having held over 30 sporting events since it was opened
in 1990. The Heydar Aliyev Arena is not the only venue at the European Games which evokes the country’s history in sport, however. Tofiq Bahramov is a man that many English football fans owe a great deal of debt to, and his name will now become synonymous with the European Games themselves, as the Stadium named after him will host the archery competition at Baku 2015. In one of the most memorable World Cup Finals of all time, Bahramov, a linesman during the 1966 match, was perhaps the
One of the key aims of the Baku 2015 European Games is to stage an event that will not only showcase Azerbaijan’s sporting emergence, but also provide a platform to build on, ensuring the Games leave the best possible legacy for the future. This is evident in the brand new Baku Aquatics Centre - the first venue of its kind in the country - but some of the other stadiums and arenas for Europe’s eagerlyanticipated first-ever multi-sport event also reflect the country’s heritage. The Heydar Aliyev Arena, named after Azerbaijan’s late President, encapsulates this perfectly, and is set to be one of the Baku Aquatics Centre
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Crystal Hall
example of how officials are looking far beyond the Games themselves, while also taking care to remember to look back. As is often the case with other multi-sport events, Baku 2015 will utilise five temporary venues, including the Water Polo Arena, the Basketball Arena, the Mountain Bike Velopark, the Beach Arena and a construction to house spectators for the road cycling event.
Tofiq Bahramov Stadium
only man inside a packed-out Wembley Stadium who spotted that Geoff Hurst’s strike, 11 minutes into added time against West Germany, had crossed the line. Few may know this as he has always been referred to as the “Russian linesman” and his real name was rarely publicised. In honour of his achievements in his career, Azerbaijan’s old National Stadium was re-named after Bahramov following his death in 1993. The tributes to Bahramov continued when England drew Azerbaijan in their qualifying group for the World Cup in 2006, and a statue of the referee was unveiled at a special Ceremony attended by Hurst, alongside UEFA and FIFA Presidents Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter respectively. While the Heydar Aliyev Arena and the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium represent the country’s rich heritage, there are other venues that have the future in mind, including the National Gymnastics Arena and the Crystal Hall.
The National Gymnastics Arena is one of the few dedicated venues of its type in the world, and will play host to all five gymnastic disciplines at the Games. The design itself is one of beauty; a picturesque venue with flowing contours encapsulating the three main colours of the Azerbaijani flag - red, green and blue - which give it a futuristic feel that guarantees its showpiece status at the event. It also represents the way in which Baku 2015 organisers are attempting to create a legacy, and it certainly appears to be a venue that wouldn’t look out of place at an Olympic Games. The Crystal Hall, meanwhile, which will stage indoor volleyball, fencing, taekwondo and boxing, encapsulates Azerbaijani success on a cultural level after it so brilliantly hosted the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. The need for multi-purpose venues is paramount. Baku has these in abundance, with the Crystal Hall providing yet another
Baku Sports Hall
The Beach Arena will stage the intriguing men’s beach soccer tournament, as well as the increasingly-popular beach volleyball, with the venue set to hold 2,500 fans in a picturesque setting on the Caspian Sea, while the Basketball Arena will see the 3x3 version of the sport make its debut at a senior multi-sport Games. Two pools will comprise the Water Polo Arena, with an expected capacity of 2,100, and the Mountain Bike Velopark, the first-ever purpose built mountain bike course in the country, is also a venue to be marvelled at. The BMX equivalent carries an aspect of both, as the venue itself is temporary, but the track will be retained as part of the Games’ legacy. Add to that the glorious Baku Aquatics Centre and the Baku Sports Hall - another venue that carries a clear intention to substantiate a legacy - and you have an ideal set of sporting arenas that will make the first-ever European Games a truly memorable event.
National Gymnastics Arena
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History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
Historic agreement between UNICEF and Baku 2015 to promote young people’s sporting activity A groundbreaking collaboration between Baku 2015 and UNICEF will put children at the heart of the inaugural European Games. Mike Rowbottom reports from Baku.
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The traditional celebrations on Baku’s Boulevard marking the beginning of the Novruz holiday period featured a new element this year as the inaugural Baku 2015 European Games became an integral part of the experience. Crowds of young people gathered to watch, and in some cases try out some of the Baku 2015 sports which staged demonstrations in a paved area dedicated to showing off the forthcoming attractions of this first gathering of 50 nations from all parts of the continent. Watching the excitement this
generated - whether it was in witnessing the thwack of foot against body armour in the taekwondo section, or the rising and falling of hopes as queues of youngsters were invited to try their hand at scoring in the 3x3 basketball exhibition - it was natural to wonder how many of these eager participants would be inspired to go back to their homes and start trying out a different sport. How many, indeed, who might one day find themselves demonstrating or competing in the sports arrayed before them. All this activity came just two
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days after a historic collaboration between UNICEF, the United Nations programme which protects the rights and welfare of all young people, and the Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee. The agreement - signed by Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports and Chief Executive of Baku 2015, and Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia - was aimed at enabling young people throughout Azerbaijan to exercise their rights to sport and healthy recreation. It will include online consultations in 21 districts of Azerbaijan which will feed into a National Adolescent Consultation on Safe and Inclusive Sport, to take place in Baku in June, two days before the Games. A further focus of the agreement is on encouraging young people to become involved in sport in their communities and make full use of the numerous state-of-theart sport facilities which have recently been built across the country. “As a young country ourselves, we are committed to investing in our youth to secure a sustainable future,” said Minister Rahimov. “We are delighted to be working closely with UNICEF to maximise the legacy of the European Games and deliver opportunities to involve children and young people through sport across all of Azerbaijan.” Poirier commented: “We know that all around the world, sport is a very powerful tool to inspire passion, bring people together, and communicate important messages about children’s rights on a massive scale. “The Baku 2015 European Games represent a unique platform for collaboration between all sectors of society to invest in children and adolescents as the most effective way to invest in society as a whole. “The Games provide us with a great opportunity to discuss the right to safe and inclusive sport for Azerbaijani boys and girls, and the role of sport as a tool for the inclusion of the most disadvantaged children and adolescents.” Through the programme, adolescents will have the opportunity to discuss the importance of sport in their lives and the opportunities linked to Azerbaijan’s hosting of the European Games and future major
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sporting events such as the Formula One European Grand Prix, the Islamic Solidarity Games and UEFA 2020 matches. They will also exchange information and views on the legacy of sporting events with peers from Brazil, a country that has hosted and will host another global sporting event. Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, added: “This agreement between UNICEF and Baku 2015 is an embodiment of the Olympic spirit that the European Games are bringing to Azerbaijan. “My team and I are incredibly excited about how, together with UNICEF, we can deliver life-changing opportunities through sport to the country’s youth. “Baku 2015 has been committed to leaving Azerbaijan a positive legacy since the very start of the project. By partnering with UNICEF, we are able to begin making a difference in the lives of the country’s children even before competitions begin. “Our partnership will give children and young people across the country a voice in harnessing the benefits sport can bring to their lives, and encourage them to become involved in sport and healthy lifestyles. “Young people will contribute their experience through the wide-ranging national consultation, which in turn will allow the new facilities to be used in the most effective way. It’s a great way to ensure that the Baku 2015 legacy will make a real difference to those who can benefit the most from the inspiration of sport.”
Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states: “That every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.” It adds: “That member Governments shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.” Among those present at the signing was Dr Andro Shilakadze, who was appointed as UNICEF’s Azerbaijan representative in September last year. “Azerbaijan has already made achievements in realising the rights of children and continues to build on its successes to reach the most vulnerable,” he said. “UNICEF remains committed to help the country ensure that the needs of children and, especially those who are most disadvantaged and excluded, are not forgotten.” Baku 2015 will also support UNICEF in promoting the importance of children’s participation in sport through official broadcasting channels and social media, bringing the passion of Baku 2015 athletes and spectators around the world to the cause of all children.
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History in the making The 1st European Games Issue 4, April 2015
European Games at the heart of a new dawn for gymnastics Gymnastics entered a new era following the use of an innovative competition format at the latest Baku 2015 European Games test event. Daniel Etchells reports from the National Gymnastics Arena. The latest Baku 2015 gymnastics test event had a lot riding on it, both from the perspective of the inaugural European Games and the sport as a whole, and after three days of intense action at the National Gymnastics Arena, the general consensus seemed to be that the “Baku Prepares” Open Joint Azerbaijan Championship had served its purpose and more. Not only did the organisers have to focus on the usual operational matters typically related to events of this kind, they also had the unenviable task of presenting a gymnastics competition in a way never seen before, while accommodating the needs of 131 gymnasts from 22 different countries. The Championship provided the first opportunity for the European Union of Gymnastics to trial its new concept of showcasing all five gymnastic disciplines artistic, rhythmic, trampoline, aerobics and acrobatics - simultaneously in the same hall. Spectators at the test event were given a taste of what’s to come with the gymnastics competitions scheduled to take place in the 6,800-capacity Arena, the home of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, from June 14 to June 21. A total of 447 athletes are expected to compete across 34 medal events, and if the fervent enthusiasm of the crowd at the test event is anything to go by, it promises to be a memorable eight days of action. “The Baku Prepares Open Joint
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Championship was an excellent event that was perfect preparation for this summer’s inaugural European Games,” said Pierce O’Callaghan, Baku 2015 Director of Sport. “The test event was a huge success and it encourages us to keep on working hard to be ready to host the Games. “Congratulations to the gymnasts who secured a top-three finish and we look forward to hopefully welcoming them back here again in June, and also congratulations to the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation for the great success of the event and their athletes.” Speaking ahead of the test event at an International Gymnastics Federation Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne, UEG President Georges Guelzec described the sport of gymnastics as “too complicated, too long and too expensive to produce for television” and insisted that it “must rapidly undertake fundamental changes to survive”. But having witnessed the innovative competition format in action, he is confident that its use at Baku 2015 will
greatly enhance the viewing experience. “This event marks an important milestone in what will be an exciting and thrilling gymnastics competition at the first ever European Games,” said Frenchman Guelzec, a former Olympic gymnast. “I am sure that with the support of the UEG and the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, we will deliver a competition which will delight and entertain both athletes and spectators in Baku and TV spectators around the world.” The spectators who turned out for the test event, many of them local school children and university students, backed the gymnasts with passionate vocal support and created a superb atmosphere inside the compact Arena. Home favourites Oleg Stepko and Kristina
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The National Gymnastics Arena was officially opened by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in April 2014 The purpose-built facility has a capacity of 6,800 and is located within walking distance of the Athletes’ Village The first international event at the venue, the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships, was hosted in June 2014
A total of 447 gymnasts are expected to compete at the venue during the inaugural European Games For the first-time ever, all five gymnastics disciplines - artistic, rhythmic, trampoline, aerobic and acrobatic - will be showcased simultaneously in the same hall Pravdina, winners of gold medals for the hosts in the men’s and women’s artistic all-around finals respectively, really gave the locals something to cheer about, while Russia made a strong impression with success in the rhythmic individual all-around competition, through 2014 world champion Yana Kudryavtseva, and the group all-around event, having led from their first performance. The Arena, which is located within
walking distance of the Athletes’ Village, provided the perfect setting for the test event, and after successfully hosting the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships last year, there’s no reason why it cannot put on an equally entertaining show during the European Games. Opened in April 2014 by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the National Gymnastics Arena is a top-class venue with accommodation and a large training hall on
Published: April 2015 by Dunsar Media Company Limited Editor: Duncan Mackay Managing Director & Project Coordinator: Sarah Bowron Baku 2015: Olalla Cernuda Farida Akhundova
Reporters: Mike Rowbottom Nick Butler Daniel Etchells Liam Morgan Michael Pavitt Dunsar Media Design: Elliot Willis
Pictures: Print: @BakuGames2015 Baku 2015 www.csfprint.com
site, and will no doubt go on to host many other major gymnastics events in the future. But for now the focus is on delivery of the European Games and with the countdown well and truly on ahead of the Opening Ceremony on June 12, the latest test event has certainly provided further evidence that the Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee is firmly on track to deliver a multi-sport extravaganza that will set the benchmark for future hosts to live up to.
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