As Official Ticketing Supporter for Baku 2015, they will be responsible for supplying a "state-of-the-art" ticketing software system and management team to enable approximately one million tickets to be sold before the Games are due to begin on June 12, 2015. 

The potential difficulty of this task has been underlined in recent weeks by the problems faced by rival company Ticketmaster with the ticket-selling process for both the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the England 2015 Rugby World Cup.

On both these occasions the process had to be suspended due to problems, but Baku 2015 chief operating officer Simon Clegg appears confident that no similar setbacks will be experienced over the next year.

"We are delighted to welcome Tickethour to our official supporter sponsorship tier and as the supplier of all ticketing services for the European Games," he said. 

"With such a complex ticketing operation to be delivered in only 12 months, we are fortunate to be working with a team who has the necessary experience and track record in delivering highly successful ticketing services for major multi-sport events."

This news follows other recent developments, including the announcement of the qualification programmes for each sport as well as the successful holding of the first test event, the European Youth Olympic Trials, in the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium last weekend.

Tickets will be available for more than 320 sessions across all 19 sports at 20 different venues for the Games, as well as for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

The news follows the completion of various venues for Baku 2015, including the iconic National Gymnastics Arena ©Broadway Maylan



The ticketing programme is due to launch early in 2015, with Tickethour to be responsible for online sales along with city centre box offices.

"We are very much looking forward to working with Tickethour over the next 12 months," said Baku 2015 commercial director Charlie Wijeratna.

"I am sure with their support we will provide a fair, functional and successful ticketing programme which will appeal to sports fans across the globe.

"We are also delighted to welcome them to the European Games sponsor family.

"Partnership momentum for the inaugural European Games continues to grow and we expect further announcements to follow very shortly."

George Bolos, chairman of Tickethour, added: "This is an exciting and important deal for us and we will be putting all our efforts, knowledge and experience into ensuring the Baku 2015 ticketing system is accessible, efficient and reliable.

"We want to enable sports fans in Azerbaijan and beyond to easily enjoy a memorable festival of sport."

The Games are scheduled to take place from June 12 until June 28 next year, with the next major step being a series of One-Year-tTo-Go celebrations taking place next Thursday (June 12). 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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