With the deadline for submissions having passed, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is set to confirm the list of applicant cities later today, with Baku up against Madrid, Rome, Tokyo, Istanbul and Doha. Azerbaijan Olympic Committee spokeswoman Konul Nurulleyeva told The Associated Press that Baku's application was filed two weeks ago, just days after the country's sporting authorities played down speculation of a bid.
Four years ago Baku tabled a bid for the 2016 Olympics, which were eventually awarded to Rio de Janeiro, and the city was eliminated when the IOC announced its list of candidate cities from the initial selection of applicants. Nurulleyeva said that the experience of the previous bid would help the city to mount an improved challenge and added that a stadium for the Games is already under construction on the outskirts of Baku and will be completed in the coming months.
Baku staged the European Gymnastics Championships in 2007 and the World Wrestling Championships in 2009, but the Olympics would be a completely different proposition for an emerging market. Baku’s flourishing economy is powered by petrol and natural gas production and the city will stage the European Broadcasting Union-owned Eurovision Song Contest next year.
