- Title: GAMES-EUROPE/OPENING Fans arrive for the European Games opening ceremony in Baku
- Date: 12th June 2015
- Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (JUNE 12, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL STADIUM, CROWDS WALKING TOWARDS ENTRANCE ENTRANCE TO NATIONAL OLYMPIC STADIUM, LARGE SIGN IN SQUARE READING (Azeri): "BAKU OLYMPIA STADIUM" PEOPLE PASSING OFFICIALS, ONE HOLDING UP SIGN READING (English): "WATER POLO" MAN RAISING UP SIGN READING (English): "WATER POLO" BAKU 2015 VOLUNTEERS STANDING IN SQUARE I
- Embargoed: 27th June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Azerbaijan
- Country: Azerbaijan
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAD7OPZ2CLOE8RAYSDAJ2KJGV0N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of sports fans and tourists gathered in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku, on Friday (June 12) to watch a lavish opening ceremony for the first ever European Games.
The energy-rich nation on the Caspian Sea has spent more than a billion dollars to stage its biggest sports extravaganza to date, officials have said, building several dazzling venues from scratch for the 16-day event.
"It is very important for us and it is a very big event for us, because we want to show us as a tourist country and it is very important for our economic development," said Azerbaijan resident Sabina.
At least one tourist knew nothing about the country.
"Look, I didn't really know about - didn't really know where Azerbaijan was until I kind of had to look up where the games were, so it is pretty exciting to just kind of land somewhere that you don't know much about and see it through the European Games really," said Australian tourist Alice Flemming.
The Games will feature around 6,000 competitors from 50 nations, but have failed to attract the biggest track and field athletes and swimmers. Instead, lower-ranked competitors will take part in two of the most popular sports in the Olympic world.
Officials have said 35 heads of state, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be at the opening ceremony at the brand new Olympic Stadium, which will host just two days of competitions.
But money is obviously no object for the Azeri government and its president, Ilham Aliyev, is eager to lay the foundations for a highly likely Olympics bid in the future.
Organisers hope Friday's opening ceremony, deploying some 2,000 participants, will mark the beginning of a successful event that will strengthen the country's position in the international sports world, just as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have done before them in recent years.
But the Azeri government, which has banned officials from human rights organisations as well as some journalists from entering the country, has faced accusations of consistent human rights violations since it was awarded the inaugural Games in 2012. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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