EUROPEAN OLYMPICS

[Gross]

With the announcement of the 2015 European Olypics to be hosted bt Baku with 15 existing summer sports and 2 others what's the odds on orienteering getting a place???? Must be a reasonable chance as most of the IOF is European.... and how would this impact on WOC in GBR?

[Big Jon]

And several high profile sports (eg athletics) don't want even more high profile competitions, so might not attend.
Mind you, what O exists in or near Baku?

[Gnitworp]

Azerbaijan became the 74th IOF member in October 2012.

[denzil53]

I thought that Azerbaijan was in Asia - seems a very curious choice.

[Gross]

I guess all the 'jan's' & 'stan's' are ex-Soviet Union & therefore European by default????? (well .... all the ex USSR ones )

[EddieH]

Sport seems to ignore the reality of geography.
Why are Israel accepted in European championships in everything when they are clearly not in Europe?

[Gross]

Sport seems to ignore the reality of geography.
Why are Israel accepted in European championships in everything when they are clearly not in Europe?

Religion !

[madmike]

Sport seems to ignore the reality of geography.
Why are Israel accepted in European championships in everything when they are clearly not in Europe?

That's right, and Cyprus is, geographically speaking, in Africa, as to the "confusestans" who knows why

[pete.owens]

I thought that Azerbaijan was in Asia - seems a very curious choice.

Most of it is, but part of the country is north of the Caucasus so in Europe.

[EddieH]

But Lebanon to its north is officially in Asia

I guess it shows what a Eurocentric World we live in - how else is Europe considered a separate continent?

[Gnitworp]

Russia's in Europe, so the Olympics could be held in Uelen Longitude 169 deg 48' 33'' W

[Drdr]

In the 1990s I ran an office in Baku and spent a lot of time looking around the country. I think the nearest forests to Baku will be 3-4 hours north-west, in the foothills of the Caucasus - nice Beech forest I recall but difficult to access. Not aware of any O maps.

A sprint race around Baku old town would be really interesting - intricate ancient streets and markets, with a few park areas. If it included the Caspian foreshore then it could be Venice for five years or so every 10 years (the Caspian sea level rises and falls by several metres on a 10-15 year cycle).