Baku 2015 Dismiss Empty Seat Concerns And Announce Closing Ceremony is Sold Out

By Christian Radnedge

The organising committee of the Baku 2015 European Games have announced that all 48,000 tickets for next week’s closing ceremony have been sold and that they are not worried about the empty seats seen so far at the Games.

Baku 2015 insisted that 168 sport sessions of a total of 281 across the 20 sports were sold out. However, swathes of empty seats were seen at venues such as Crystal Hall which is hosting volleyball.

Chief operating officer of the Games Simon Clegg said the problem of empty seats was “obviously an issue with tickets being given to sponsors”.

“This is a challenge that any international event has on day one and two of competition as the system starts to bed down,” he said. “I recognize that some sports are more popular and some less in Azerbaijan.”

Nevertheless, the government is confident there will be no empty seats at the closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium on June 28.

Speaking about the demand for tickets to Baku 2015, Minister of Youth and Sport and Chief Executive Officer for Baku 2015, Mr Azad Rahimov, said: “The response to the Games has been magnificent. The Opening Ceremony has inspired the nation and as a result we are seeing a huge demand for tickets from people who want to be part of Azerbaijan’s largest ever sporting event.

“I’m also extremely proud of our Azerbaijani athletes, they have all done our nation proud. The reaction they have received from the crowd has been magnificent and their performances will help inspire young people across the country to take up sport.”