(ATR) When the debut European Games were awarded to Baku just about one year ago, they came with an immediate challenge. Organize and stage a new multi-sport event in June 2015, featuring the 49 NOCs of Europe with a then unknown number of sports.
Since then the progress has been termed "excellent" by Spyros Capralos, chairman of the European Olympic Committees coordination commission for the event. But he acknowledged the difficulties still ahead for the organizers in Baku.
"Time is our biggest enemy," Capralos noted at a press conference Tuesday wrapping up his group’s second meeting of the year. Still Capralos said he is confident about delivering the games as scheduled.
"There is not one day left to relax. Hard work is needed, not just in construction of venues but in operating plans, so that we can ensure that the games are a huge success," said Capralos.
Now president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Capralos knows firsthand the pressure faced by games organizers at the last minute. Capralos was a top executive of Athens 2004, which face some serious construction issues with just months to go before the Olympics.
The European Games have been talked about for years but they have taken form during the past eight years of the EOC presidency of Patrick Hickey. He is keen for Europe to have a multi-sport event similar to the Pan-American Games or Asian Games which are organized by their respective continental associations, the Pan-American Sports Organization and the Olympic Council of Asia.
As of now the inaugural games will have 18 sports, not the full retinue of 28 Olympic sports. And one of them, karate, is not on the Olympic program. A noticeable holdout from the games is athletics. Hickey says he’ll be talking soon with the head of European Athletics to try to bring the sport to the Baku event. Calendar issues have been a prime objection for sports such as athletics which already has a very busy schedule.
Planning calls for about 5400 athletes to compete in Baku.
The wealth and ambition of Azerbaijan to become a sports power is behind the country’s eagerness to host the European Games on such short notice. Snubbed by the IOC twice in attempts to bid for the Olympic Games, Azerbaijan does not give up. It has hosted smaller events such as the AIBA boxing world championships and the FIFA under – 17 women’s World Cup.
Baku is also eager to make sure international media cover the preparations. The travel costs of ATR for this week’s visit to the Azeri capital have been covered by the Ministry of Sport.
Only two major venues are being constructed for 2015: a 65,000-seat football arena and an aquatic center. Both are scheduled to be finished in early 2015, leaving little time for test events said Capralos.
Capralos and other leaders of the games express confidence in the executive team assembled to run the operation. CEO Jim Scherr, former CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee, has been working in Baku since early this year.
One of his colleagues from his days at the USOC, Darryl Seibel will soon join the staff. Seibel is the former USOC communications chief and he currently holds a similar post at the British Olympic Association. Seibel says he will transition between London and Baku in the coming months. He will continue to lead media operations for the BOA at the Sochi Olympics. After Sochi, Seibel will take up residence in Baku. He tells Around the Rings: "it’s a great opportunity to work on an organizing committee especially one which is starting out for the first time."
Other experts from the London Olympics such as comms chief Jackie Brock-Doyle and operations guru Doug Arnott are counseling the Baku team. From Greece comes Makis Asimakopulos, former sports director of Athens 2004, advising Baku on sport.
Other names to look out for include ex-IOC protocol director Paul Foster, former London 2012 commercial executive Charles Wijeratna, Olympic PR veteran Jon Tibbs and consultant Andrew Craig.
Former BOA secretary general Simon Clegg is working on behalf of the EOC, running the Secretariat overseeing this new property for the EOC.
Former London 2012 adviser Michael Pirrie, now posted in Baku, will help with assisting in Baku with communications and strategy.
No major sponsors have signed up for the European games but pitches are being made to the worldwide Olympic sponsors as well as companies in Azerbaijan and in Europe.
Sports minister Azad Rahimov says Baku is in discussions to form a host broadcasting entity. Once that step is taken he says TV rights to the event will be sold so that the Games can be viewed across the continent.
Written and reported in Baku byEd Hula.
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