By Amina Nazarli

Baku, which hosted the inaugural European Games in 2015, may bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

The issue is reflected in the draft concept of socio-economic development of Azerbaijan for 2017 and subsequent three years, which was submitted to the Parliament.

The city twice fought for the right to host the Summer Olympic Games, but both applications for 2016, and 2020 Games were defeated.

Rome, Paris, Boston and Budapest are already in the running to stage the 2024 Olympic Games. The winner will be announced after voting at the IOC's conference in Lima, Peru, in September 2017.

Youth and Sport Minster Azad Rahimov recently said that holding of various major sporting events for Azerbaijan is a step towards the Olympic Games.

Indeed, in 2016 the country welcomed a caravan of competitions, including 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals, Formula 1 European Grand Prix, FIDE World Chess Olympiad, FIG World Cup final and etc, leaving an unforgettable sporting year for sport fans.



The 4th Islamic Solidarity Games scheduled for May 2017 will also be the great event hosted by the country. Moreover, Baku streets will once again welcome exciting sport cars within Formula 1 race, which the country has committed to host for five years.

Previously it was revealed that, the draft document stipulates allocation of funds for creation of new sports facilities in the country.

The draft law "On state budget of Azerbaijan for 2017" envisages allocation of 330.3 million manats (about $193 million) for the construction of sporting facilities in the years to come.

In 2018, the figure will be in the amount of 16.7 million manats ($9.7 million), in 2019 -- 21.7 million manats ($12.6 million) and in 2020 the amount will be 23.9 million manats ($13.9 million).

The Azerbaijani Parliament will launch discussions on the draft 2017 state and consolidated budgets next week. President Ilham Aliyev submitted the final version of the budgetary package to the Parliament on November 16, 2016.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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