By Duncan Mackay

With less than a year to go until the start of the first-ever European Games there is a widespread support for the event in Azerbaijan, a survey claims ©TissotA total of 1.5 million people in Azerbaijan are interested in purchasing tickets for next year's inaugural European Games, it was claimed today. 


The figure was revealed in an independent survey which also found more than six out of 10 people there believe the event will help establish their country on the international stage.

According to the poll, 62 per cent of the population believe the Games, which is set to feature more than 6,000 athletes from 49 countries, is more than just a sporting event, and will turn out to be a worthy investment assisting Azerbaijan's future development.

The survey, conducted by Rey Monitoring Center, who regularly carry out polls for the Azerbaijan Government, also found that 67 per cent of the population will watch coverage of the Games on television, with more than 50 per cent of the population following news around the event in the lead-up to it.

The nationwide assessment of public opinion was conducted from June 14 until 16 shortly after The One Year to Go celebrations through an omnibus survey consisting of 1,200 respondents all aged 18 or above.

According to the results, approximately 1.5 million people across the whole of Azerbaijan will be interested in purchasing tickets for the Games, due to run next year from June 12 until 28. 

Baku 2015 has yet to reveal details of the ticketing programme but with Azerbaijan difficult to enter without a visa it will boost hopes that the Games will still be well supported. 

Spectacular venues, including the new National Gymnastics Arena, are due host events at next year's inaugural European Games in Baku ©Baku 2015Spectacular venues, including the new National Gymnastics Arena, are due host events at next year's inaugural European Games in Baku ©Baku 2015

"These results show that the majority of Azerbaijan's population recognise just how important next year's European Games are," said Simon Clegg, chief operating officer of Baku 2015. 

"Public support is crucial to the success of the event and it is vital for Azerbaijan that we deliver a European Games of which the whole country can be proud."

A large majority of the population - around 81 per cent - are confident that the Games will be delivered to a high level.

"We conducted a survey before the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest and found that there is a very similar level of public support for both events," said Rizvan Abbasov, director of Rey Monitoring Center

"As was the case with Eurovision, I would expect to see increasing levels of public support for the European Games as we draw nearer to the event."

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