Baku 2020 CEO Konul Nurullayeva headed a delegation to submit the bid’s applicant file to International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne Tuesday.
Nurullayeva said on handing over the file, “reflecting our bid’s tagline ‘Together we can’, Baku’s Applicant File stresses that it is not simply about what the Olympic Games can do for Baku and Azerbaijan, but what the city and country can offer back to the Olympic Movement”.
She added, “our Applicant File outlines a Games Plan that will extend the Olympic ideals to millions of new hearts and minds and one that will embrace five continents. It says that awarding Baku the honour of hosting the 2020 Games will give people around the world a true picture of Azeri culture, while at the same time bring a new found sporting confidence to a region that has not had the opportunity to witness first-hand the greatest sporting event on earth”.
Baku 2020 says its compact concept is based around four clusters that include both competition and non-competition venues that integrate existing, new, permanent and temporary venues.
The Waterfront Cluster includes three competition venues hosting seven sports, while the White City Cluster will house the Olympic Village, Media Village, IBC/MPC and Athlete Training Centre, plus three adjacent competition venues.
The Airport Cluster makes use of enhanced existing sporting venues and fits in with the city’s expansion plans for the Baku Export Centre. At Games-time the Expo will host seven sports and will be a key Paralympic venue.
All competition venues, with the exception of three venues for the preliminary football competition, are within a 25-minute travel time of the Olympic Village.