(ATR) Baku 2015 organisers on Monday confirmed the triathlon venue, as the Games fifth official sponsor was named.
Triathlon’s status as one of the 20 sports on the program of the inaugural Games was in jeopardy due to concerns over oil pollution in the Azerbaijan capital's waters. The International Triathlon Union had proposed a duathlon competition if the issue was not resolved.
But Games chiefs and the ITU today announced that a venue had been secured to the satisfaction of both sides.
The triathlon event, which will be a Rio 2016 qualifier, will be held at Bilgah Beach, located just north of Baku city centre. The race will consist of a 1,500m swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run.
"As the winners of the men’s and women’s events will automatically qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, we expect an elite field of athletes competing in what will prove to be a superb venue," Baku 2015 COO Simon Clegg said.
Located close to the Athletes’ Village, Bilgah Beach is well-known as a luxurious seaside resort that is popular with both locals and tourists.
ITU president Marisol Casado said she was "very happy" that the high-profile venue had been confirmed for the triathlon event.
"Their determination to secure a location that has the capacity to host high-quality sport as well as the large crowds that are expected to attend was very welcome," she said.
Baku 2015’s director of sport Pierce O’Callaghan described Bilgah Beach as "the perfect location", saying the sport "will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the European Games sports program".
"The recent tests on the water quality were excellent and weare more than confident that the first European Games will see a thrilling race taking place in a spectacular setting," he said.
Fifth Sponsor on Board
Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR has become the fifth top sponsor of the European Games.
Under the deal announced Saturday, Baku 2015 branding will feature on every SOCAR forecourt and outlet across the country to raise awareness of the event.
SOCAR will also help to promote the European Games around Europe through a marketing campaign that will feature in four other countries, including Switzerland, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine.
"The European Games is an opportunity to promote Azerbaijan to the rest of the world and to have the backing of such a highly valued international company is of vital importance," said Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s sports minister and Baku 2015 CEO.
SOCAR joins P&G, Tissot, BP and Nar Mobile as an official partner of the Games. Employing more than 60,000 people, the company has a long history of partnering with sport. It is a sponsor of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan and one of the top-tier partners of the 2016 UEFA European Championships in France.
"To have the support of a number of high-profile international businesses is essential to any major sports event, and the calibre of partners that Baku 2015 has secured will no doubt lead to a wonderful first edition of the European Games," said Patrick Hickey, president of the European Olympic Committees.
Reported by Mark Bisson.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
