Landmark moment as the continent catches up with rest of the world
Around 6,000 athletes will be competing in 20 sports in Baku as Europe finally gets its own ‘Olympics’
WHAT ARE THE EUROPEAN GAMES?
In effect, they are the continent’s answer to the ‘Olympics’, the first multi-discipline event of its kind solely for European athletes.
Europe had been the only continent without its own Games and this event will sit alongside the All -Africa Games, Pan-American Games, Asian Games and Pacific Games.
The Games are run by the European Olympic Committee and were born in 2012, when 84 per cent of the National Olympic Committees in Europe voted for them. Like the Olympics, they will be held every four years.
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is hosting the Games from tomorrow until June 28 with around 6,000 athletes from 50 countries taking part.
This event is a stepping stone in Azerbaijan’s attempt to stage the Olympics, having lost out to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Games and Tokyo for 2020.
WHAT SPORTS ARE INVOLVED?
Of the 20 sports, 16 are Olympic disciplines: aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, volleyball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, judo, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon and wrestling. The non-Olympic sports are karate, basketball three on three, beach soccer and sambo, a Russian martial art and loosely a combination of judo and wrestling.
HOW MANY VENUES ARE THERE?
There are 18 and Baku has built five new permanent venues for the Games: the National Gymnastics Arena, BMX Velo park, Aquatics Centre, Shooting Centre and Olympic Stadium.
The venues include the Crystal Hall, whose first event wa s the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. Three years ago, the United Kingdom finished second last and Britain will be hoping to do better in the arena this time when medals will be contested in volleyball, boxing, karate, taekwondo and fencing.
The cost for these Games is unknown but is thought to run into billions.
WHO WILL BE THERE?
The big names of athletics, cycling and swimming will be absent from the event. However, there are star turns from other sports, ranging from international names such as Olympic boxing gold medallist Katie Taylor and former British taekwondo competitor Aaron Cook, who has since switched his allegiance to Moldova.
AND WHAT ABOUT BRITAIN?
The British contingent is 160 strong and includes the first female Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams and Jade Jones, who won her Olympic taekwondo division three years ago.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE AT STAKE?
For judo, the Games double up as its European Championships after Glasgow lost the hosting rights following a sponsorship dispute.
There is also direct Olympic qualification available in disciplines such as triathlon, shooting and table tennis. For taekwondo and archery, while direct qualification to Rio de Janeiro next year is not achievable, qualifying points are on offer.
WHERE CAN I WATCH IT?
BT Sport has the rights on British television, with subscribers able to watch daily coverage.