CHANCES OF BAKU-2020 ARE GROWING

Baku's candidacy to host the Olympic Games in 2020 has been approved. The National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the organizing committee of Baku-2020 have submitted a bid book to the International Olympic Committee for the approval of the candidacy of our country. Although some regard the nomination of Azerbaijan as self-promotion, the organizing committee of Baku-2020 presented with credit the country's feasible ambitions to host the Olympics.

In an interview with The Associated Press, IOC President Jacques Rogge rated Baku's application seriously enough: "The candidacy of Baku should be taken seriously. The capital of Azerbaijan is a strong contender. I value the chances of all candidates as equal. Each of them wants to host the Olympics. I console myself with the fact that we have five strong contenders to host the Olympics in 2020."

We already know that many sports facilities related to the 2020 Olympic Games will be built in Baku. The bid book presents a lot of information about infrastructure projects in Azerbaijan, the territories where these facilities are located, and the number of viewers they can accommodate. The Olympic Village will be located in an area that currently belongs to an oil refinery in White City, which will soon be moved to a new location. The construction of Olympic facilities will start if Baku is to host the Olympics 2020. Houses for Olympians, restaurants, recreation centres, clinics and other related facilities required by the Olympic Village will be located here.

Baku's bid book says that half of the 26 sites designated for the Games are ready. The Baku Exhibition Centre, the National Shooting Centre, the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Concert Complex and the Tennis Centre have been brought into line with international standards. Stadiums in Sumqayit, Ganca and Qabala will be renovated.

Currently, the construction of a stadium in the 8th kilometre village, where the World Cup among 17-year-old girls will be held, is nearing completion. The Crystal Plaza complex, which is under construction for the Eurovision-2012 Song Contest, will also be re-equipped for holding the Olympic Games. In 2013-2015, an Olympic stadium, a national water sports centre and an Olympic complex of gymnastics will be built in Baku. By 2019, it is planned to build a motor-cycling race course, a multi-purpose arena, a kayak-canoe and rowing centre on the Lake Xocasan. Simultaneously, a facility for mountain biking will be put into operation in Bilacari, as well as temporary sports facilities in the boulevard. The location of 21 of the 26 sports facilities within 20 minutes' drive from the Olympic village is considered an advantage for Baku.

The dates when Baku would like to host the Summer and Paralympic Games in 2020 have also been identified. According to the bid book submitted to the IOC, it is planned to hold the 2020 Olympics opening ceremony on 17 July and the closing ceremony on 2 August. The Paralympic Games will start on 13 August and last until 24 August.

A 7-minute promotional video, dedicated to Baku-2020, graphically demonstrates the four sectors of the future Olympic infrastructure. It also reflects other facilities and areas that will be used if Baku is selected as the venue for the Olympic Games in 2020. The promotional video made by the famous Hollywood director Rupert Wainwright includes fragments on the futuristic work being carried out in Baku and the panorama of our capital in 2020.

In addition to Baku, Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkey), Madrid (Spain) and Tokyo (Japan) have also made a bid to host the Olympics in 2020. It is noteworthy that one of the rival countries has already dropped out, which increases the chances of other candidates. It is the capital of Italy, whose government withdrew the candidature of Rome because of the financial crisis.

At its meeting in Quebec (Canada) on 23 May 2012, the IOC Executive Board will publish a short list of applicant cities. The name of the winner will be announced at a meeting to be held on 7 September 2013 in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

BAKU ARENAS IN WHICH IT IS PLANNED TO HOST THE 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

Archery and rugby - the 12,000-seat stadium in the 8th kilometre village;

Opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, football (final) - the 80,000-seat Olympic stadium;

Diving, swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo, modern pentathlon - the 12,000-seat National Water Sports Centre;

Swimming in open water and triathlon - the Bay of Baku;

Badminton and rhythmic gymnastics - the 6,000-seat National Olympic Gymnastics Complex;

Basketball, fencing, modern pentathlon (fencing), handball, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting - the 15,000-seat Baku Exhibition Centre;

Boxing - the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Concert Complex;

Canoe-kayak and rowing - the 12,000-seat rowing centre at Lake Xocasan;

Cycling - a 5,000-seat motor-cycling race course;

Mountain biking - The 2,000-seat Bilacari facility for mountain biking;

Cycle race - the boulevard ring;

Cycle track - a 5,000-seat velodrome;

Shooting, grass hockey, modern pentathlon (equestrian) - the 12,000-seat Bina Centre;

Qualifying football matches - stadiums in Sumqayit and Qabala (15,000 seats), a stadium in Ganca (25,000 seats) and the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku (32,000 seats);

Golf - the Baku island of wishes (2,000 seats);

Gymnastics and trampoline gymnastics - a 12,000-seat gymnastics arena;

Wrestling and judo - the 25,000-seat Crystal Plaza;

Sailing - the Baku sailing sport centre;

Shooting - the 3,000-seat National Shooting Centre;

Tennis - the 21,250-seat Tennis Centre;

Beach Volleyball - the Baku boulevard;

Volleyball - The 15,000-seat Baku multi-purpose arena.