Baku 2015 COO: New European Games Sponsors Coming

(ATR) Simon Clegg says Baku 2015 will sign two new top-tier sponsors in the next two weeks.

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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 07:  General view of Baku city on June 7, 2011 in Baku, Azerbaijan.  (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 07: General view of Baku city on June 7, 2011 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

(ATR) Baku 2015 is set to sign two new top-tier sponsors in the next couple of weeks.

Organizing committee chief operating officer Simon Clegg told the Sponsors Sport Venue Summit in Hamburg that half of the top-level sponsorships were secured thanks to deals with BP, P&G, Tissot and Nar Mobile.

"There is no history for the event. So we have to sell a concept for sponsors," he said of the challenge.

"It is absolutely fantastic. We have 50 percent of our top-level sponsors filled, and I am confident that we announce another two in the next couple of weeks."

After securing broadcasting deals to screen the European Games in four countries – Turkey, Romania, Hungary and Belgium – Clegg said he was confident of striking deals in other countries soon.

"I recognize that Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy and Russia are particularly important markets," he said. "We are making really good progress in all of these markets to be in a position, I hope, over the coming weeks and months to announce how sports fans in those markets will watch the European Games."

"It is a big challenge for us to organize such a big event in such a short time," he said.

The Baku 2015 COO also spoke about the size of the multi-sport event, which has a program of 20 sports, warning about gigantism. He said it was a matter for the European Olympic Committees (EOC) to consider for the 2019 edition.

"My view is Baku is the upper limit for the sustainability point of view," he said.

"It must be attractive to other cities and countries to host the event.

"We must not allow it to become too big. We turned away 14 sports who want to be part of the sports program. I think the EOC has to look very carefully and to decide what is the right size event for the European Games after Baku from a sustainability point of view," he added.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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