Baku bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics

Baku 2020 is a bid by the city of Baku

Baku

Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...

to host the 2020 Summer Olympics

2020 Summer Olympics

The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, will be a major international sports and cultural festival, celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games....

. The IOC will announce the official candidate cities on May 23, 2012. The winning bid will be announced on September 7, 2013 at the 125th IOC Session

125th IOC Session

The 125th IOC Session will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in September 2013. The International Olympic Committee will meet to elect the host city of the 2020 Summer Olympics on September 7. They will also elect a new IOC President and will consider adding new sports for the 2020...

in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

History

It was announced on September 1, 2011 that Baku submitted a bid to host the 2020 Olympics. On September 13, 2011 it was announced that Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyubov will head the Baku 2020 bid. Youth and Sports Minister

Ministry of Youth and Sports (Azerbaijan)

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Republic is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulating activities related to sports and youth development in Azerbaijan Republic. The ministry is headed by Azad Rahimov....

Azad Rahimov

Azad Rahimov Arif oglu is an Azerbaijani politician who serves as the Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Republic. He has occupied the position since 2005.-Early life:...

claims the Baku will be ready to stage the 2020 Olympics by 2016 citing that many sports facilities have been built. Baku is already building an Olympic Stadium

Baku Olympic Stadium

The Baku Olympic Stadium is a retractable roof football stadium currently under construction in Boyuk Shor, Baku, Azerbaijan, and planned to be opened in 2015...

as well as an Olympic complex which will include a pool. On October 20, 2011, the Russian Olympic Committee

Russian Olympic Committee

Russian Olympic Committee , is the National Olympic Committee representing Russia.-See also:*Russian Paralympic Committee*Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee...

announced that they supported Baku's bid. There is also talk of a joint bid between Russia and Azerbaijan for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics

2018 Summer Youth Olympics

The 2018 Summer Youth Olympics will be the third Summer Youth Olympic Games, a major international multi-sport event and cultural festival to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, in 2018 during the XXXI Olympiad. It will be the fifth Youth Olympic Games overall, with the Winter...

. Azerbaijan shares a border with Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

and used to be part of the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

.

In their campaign to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, Baku's bid committee appointed three leading international agencies; pmplegacy, Burson-Marsteller

Burson-Marsteller

Burson-Marsteller is a global public relations and communications firm headquartered in the United States. Burson-Marsteller operates 67 wholly owned offices and 71 affiliate offices in 98 countries across six continents...

and Adore Creative in November 2011. Later on that month, Baku 2020 appointed Konul Nurullayeva to be the CEO of the Baku 2020 Bid Committee. Baku 2020 has hired a team of experts to help them with their bid. One of the experts they have hired is Bob Elphinston who was the general manager of Sydney

Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

's successful bid to host the 2000 Summer Olympics

2000 Summer Olympics

The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...

Previous bids

Baku bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics

2016 Summer Olympics

The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, are a major international multi-sport event to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee...

but did not become a candidate. Those games ultimately were awarded to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

Overview

The city hosted many sporting events, including Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships

Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships

The Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships are the European championships for the sport of rhythmic gymnastics. They were first held in 1978. Prior to 2006, they were called the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships. The competition is organised by the European Union of...

in 2007

2007 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships

The 23rd Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships were held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 29 June to 1 July 2007.- Individual all-around :- Clubs :- Hoop :- Ribbon :- Rope :-References:*...

and 2009

2009 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships

The 25th Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships was opened on May 15, 2009 in Baku, Azerbaijan in the Heydar Aliyev Sports-Concert Complex and ended on May 17. 186 gymnasts from 32 countries were scheduled to participate....

, 2005 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships

2005 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships

XXVII World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were held in Baku the capital of Azerbaijan, October 3rd - 10th 2005 at the Heydar Aliyev Sport Concert Complex.-Medal Table:-Individual All-Around:-Groups All-Around:-Groups 5 Ribbons:...

, 2007 FILA Wrestling World Championships

2007 FILA Wrestling World Championships

The 2007 FILA Wrestling World Championships were held at the Heydar Aliyev Sport & Exhibition Complex in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event took place from September 17 to September 23, 2007.-Medal table:-Team ranking:-Men's freestyle:-Men's Greco-Roman:...

and 2010 European Wrestling Championships

2010 European Wrestling Championships

The 2010 FILA European Wrestling Championships was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from April 13 to April 18, 2010.Because of the ongoing dispute over Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenia chose not to compete at this event for the safety of their wrestlers.-Medal table:-Team ranking:-Men's...

, 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships

2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships

The 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships was held at the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex in Baku, Azerbaijan from September 22, 2011 to October 10, 2011....

, 2009 Women's Challenge Cup and European Taekwondo Championships

European Taekwondo Championships

European Taekwondo Championships is the Taekwondo European Championship organized by the European Taekwondo Union, first held in 1976.- List of tournaments :-External links:*...

in 2007.As of 2011, the city annually hosts WTA

Women's Tennis Association

The Women's Tennis Association , founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King, is the principal organizing body of Women's Professional Tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women. Its counterpart organization in the men's professional game is the Association of...

tennis event called Baku Cup

Baku Cup

The Baku Cup is a tennis tournament held in Baku, Azerbaijan. It made its debut on the 2011 WTA Tour and as one of the international tier of events. This WTA Tour event is an international tournament and is played at the Baku Tennis Academy on outdoor hardcourts.-History:Baku Cup is the first WTA...

. The city will host the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

The 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup women's football tournament is the third such tournament, and will be held in Azerbaijan from 22 September to 13 October, following a decision by the Executive Committee on the 19th March 2010.-Mascot:...

Venues

The Baku Olympic Stadium