Azerbaijan, regional leader for holding int'l events

Rashid Shirinov, AzerNews

Baku image from article

In recent years, Azerbaijan has attracted attention of the world by hosting a number of great international events. Observers and travelers express their admiration and astonishment on the responsible attitude of Azerbaijan to its visitors and events organization.

International cultural, artistic activities are good examples of Azerbaijan's active public diplomacy, believes Levente Kozma, the former Hungarian senior foreign policy advisor.

Azerbaijan's efforts in the public diplomacy sphere have produced excellent results on the world stage, Kozma told Trend, adding that Organizing events like the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in 2016, and the Baku International Humanitarian Forum show Azerbaijan's important role in the region.

Organizing the European Games in 2015 and the 2016 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe, which is to be held soon in Azerbaijan's capital Baku, are also very good asset to boost the country's reputation, noted Kozma.

"However, I am sure that a country has to have already a good reputation to get the possibility of organizing one of the most popular sports contest in the world - the Formula 1," he added.

The European Games was held in Baku in summer 2015 staging a grandiose show that presented the world the history of Azerbaijan, its culture, art and traditions.

The first issue of the Games in Baku gathered over 6,000 athletes from 50 countries of Europe to compete in 20 sports, 16 of which are Olympic. The Games provide 12 licenses to Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The 2016 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe will take place in Baku on June 17-19. The event will take place right in the streets of Baku, revealing its beauty for international spectators. The tribunes and the general admission areas of the Grand Prix will provide up to 30,000 places for the event spectators.

Tourists from different countries will visit the event, while the majority of ticket purchasers were from Russia, Turkey, Germany, Finland, Ukraine, and Arab countries as far.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan’s capital Baku will host the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games on May 12-22, 2017. The Games, which will bring together athletes from 57 countries, will be held under the slogan “Solidarity is our power”. More than 160 Azerbaijani sportsmen are expected to participate in the Games. The Muslim religion of all athletes is not a pre-condition for participation in the competition.