Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Baku has lost the race for the right to hold Olympic Games in 2020.

Under International Olympic Committee’s decision, yesterday the candidates to host the Olympics in 2020 became Madrid, Tokyo and Istanbul. Doha and Baku were withdrawn from the race.

The IOC considered Baku experience in large-scale sports events insufficient. Doha has suffered mainly from the fact that proposed to hold the Olympics in October, when it is not so hot. The IOC plans to choose the capital of Olympic Games 2020 on 7 September 2014.

Baku has made a second attempt in its history to receive the right to host the Olympics, while Madrid claims for that for the third consecutive time, Tokyo - the second time after a large break, and Istanbul - the fifth time. The Organizing Committee for Olympic & Paralympic Games (Baku 2020) has put a Herculean effort to win the Olympic race, but the Olympics once again proved to be inaccessible.

It is still unknown whether Baku will further claim the right to host the Olympic Games, or focus on smaller-scale challenges, but already now it is obvious that the capital of Azerbaijan is lacking factors needed for victory in the Olympic races.

The main factor here is the fact that nobody in the world knows Baku as one of the world show capitals (and the Olympiad is, first of all, a show).

Tighter immigration policy (in particular, the visa regime) led to a reduction of interest in Baku as an affordable vacation place. It has suspended development of the hotel sector (not separate first-class hotels, but the entire network of all categories), and withdrawal of serious foreign private investors from the industry of show entertainment in the country. The fact of foreign presence here is quite important for improvement of overall attractiveness of Baku as the centre of leisure and entertainment, especially abroad.

Today, in Baku, Azerbaijan is lacking world-class sports infrastructure, which would allow holding any international match at least at the average level almost without preparation. The country also has not sports industry, not to mention of the presence of the private sector in it.

24.05.2012 09:20