GAMES-EUROPE/CLEGG European Games to become global sports event - chief operating officer

Record ID: 150845

  • Title: GAMES-EUROPE/CLEGG European Games to become global sports event - chief operating officer
  • Date: 10th June 2015
  • Summary: CLOSE OF FLAGS
  • Embargoed: 25th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4AL8XH2K6E8TYV5MITAI995C8
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The European Games, starting in Baku on Friday (June 12), will provide the necessary momentum for the first major continental multi-sports event to establish itself on the international calendar, Chief Operating Office Simon Clegg said on Wednesday (June 10).
    Azerbaijan, host of the inaugural event, has spent hundreds of millions on infrastructure and organisation as the nation looks to expand its market share of top sports events, though specific financial details of the overall cost are not available.
    "What we have done is we have created a big bang moment for the European games," Clegg, a former CEO of the British Olympic Association, told Reuters in an interview.
    "If you are going to have a big bang moment, particularly if you are going to fight your way into a congested sports calendar then you want to have it for the inaugural event."
    New, state-of the-art stadiums dot the capital of the energy-rich nation on the Caspain sea where some 6,000 athletes, representing 50 European Olympic Committees, will be competing until June 28.
    Preparations for the Games, which are not too far removed in size from the summer Olympics which has about 10,500 athletes, were completed in under three years when Olympic hosts have a seven-year organisation time.
    "When we were awarded the Games in December 2012 there was not one sport committed to the programme," Clegg said in reference to those who wondered whether such an event was necessary.
    "We now have 20 sports, we turned away seven sports. Of the 16 Olympic sports, 12 are offering direct or indirect qualification for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro," the chief operating officer said.
    Clegg said the European games will scarcely replace the Olympics, but are aiming to become one of the global sport events.
    "Well, I am not sure that the European Games is ever going to replace the Commonwealth Games, but I obviously understand that question. I said very early on that my aspiration was to establish at some stage in the future this event as the preeminent multi-sports continental games across the whole of the globe. That is what the aspiration is and that is where I think we have moved this event towards," Clegg said.
    Clegg also said that political issues related to the games are beyond his control.
    "As the chief operating officer of the operations committee, I am entirely focused on the event, and delivering the best possible event for athletes. There are certain things within my control and I spend a lot of time focusing on those. But, I also recognise that there are somethings outside of my control and political questions need to be asked to politicians, not to people responsible for delivering the first ever European Games for the athletes of Europe," chief operating officer said.
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