EOC Boasts Innovations as Baku 2015 Enters Homestretch -- On the Scene

(ATR)With four non-Olympic sports being contested, a sophisticated gymnastics program and other transportation, ticketing and media innovations, Baku 2015 organizers are trying to put their stamp on the European Games.

"It's about innovation, trying to do things slightly differently," Simon Clegg, Baku 2015 chief operating officer, told a news conference on Monday.

Sambo, three-on-three basketball, beach soccer, and karate - all non-Olympic sports - are part of the 20-sport program in Baku.

Three-on-three hoops takes to the court, beginning Tuesday at the European Games Park Basketball Arena.Organizers are hoping the fast-paced game, with 16 men's and 16 women's teams vying for gold, will be one of the ballyhooed events.

Romania's Angel Santana and Ireland's Orla O'Reilly are excited to hit the court in Baku."I've been playing street ball for a long time and now it's a little more organized, so it's great for us to have this exposure," Santana said.

"At these Games, I think we're going to be a huge interest," O'Reilly said.

The half court games are only 10 minutes, as opposed to traditional five-on-five's 40 minutes - and end if a team reaches 21 points.

"The main difference is the quickness, it's more physical and intense than regular basketball so I like to call it 'Rogue basketball'," Santana said.

For the first time at any major event, gymnastics' brought a program that boasted four disciplines - acrobatic, aerobic, artistic and rhythmic - blended together in a busy schedule. The eventsconcluded on Sunday.

Acrobatic gymnastics, which involves up to three competitors performing intricate balance maneuvers and throws, and aerobic gymnastics, which combines aerobic choreography and gymnastic elements, joined the more traditional Olympic artistic and rhythmic disciplines on a packed 11-day program. The two non-Olympic additions were enthusiastically received in Baku.

"They wanted to try and change the format of traditional gymnastics - I'm sure it was not without its challenges, but I think it was an incredibly positive experience for the spectators," Clegg said."I think it was a good innovation that just needs some fine tuning, but it was a good way to go."

Other innovations related to transportation at the Games include the use of the T-All and TX system. The T-All system involves a shared shuttle for press, broadcasters, technical officials, European Games family and certain workforce personnel.

The TX system involves free access to cabs at certain Games locations for athletes and select officials. However, a large number of the London-style cabs can be seen waiting around, unoccupied, as media and some officials do not have permission to use them.

Although 90 percent of transportation has worked smoothly and arrived on time, according to Clegg, the Games have been overshadowed bythe bus accident that injured three Austrian synchronized swimmers, one severely,prior to the Games opening.

Another innovation at the Games has been the introduction of the I-Zone, which replaces the traditional mixed zone and formal press conferences, where athletes are interviewed after competition. The more informal I-Zone brings TV and print journalists together, along with athletes, in a lounge-type room with soft seats and Baku 2015 backdrops. The concept has worked well at times, although there has been some confusion as to when athletes are available and the location of the interview rooms.

On Wednesday and Thursday, street pole vault and high jump competitions are scheduled as demonstration events in Baku's Flag Square. German world champion pole vaulter Raphael Holzdeppe is among those competing.

Cluttered and Confusing?

While the organizers talk about the Games offering an innovative schedule of sports and events, others may view the lengthy 17-day program as cluttered and confusing.

"We cannot afford for the European Games to become the gigantism of the Olympic Games," Clegg told reporters.

Speaking of sports to be contested at the next edition in 2019, at a city yet to be determined, Clegg added, "The EOC will decide which sports they want in for 2019."

Road Race Showcases Baku

A large portion of Baku's downtown city streets were shut Saturday and Sunday for the men's and women's cycling road races.Spain's Gil Luis Leon Sanchez outsprinted three rivals in front of Baku's Freedom Hall to win the grueling 220km men's race in five hours, 27 minutes and 25 seconds.

Top names competing included Belgium's Tom Boonen and Italy's Filippo Pozzatto.

"I think the images from the road race were sensational and demonstrated to the world the beauty of Azerbaijan, particularly the Old Town," Clegg said.

In other major finals on Sunday, an opportunistic Serbian men's water polo team surged from behind, taking its first lead late in the third quarter, and hanging on to defeat Spain 8-7. Greece bested Croatia by one goal to claim bronze. The European Games water polo competition also served as the under-17 European Championships.

Day 10 of competition on Monday included the final of two days of team athletics. The event at the National Stadium included only countries in the lower C division of the sport.

Baku has been extremely windy at times, with gusts expected to be around 44kmh on Monday, potentially reaching up to 59. Temperatures have remained hot and could climb to a sweltering 37 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

The inaugural European Games conclude on Sunday.

Reported in Baku by Brian Pinelli

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