Oppressive Azerbaijan hosts First European Games

The two week long sporting fest of European countries for the very first time is scheduled to begin today the capital city of Azerbaijan, Baku. The frenzied action packed European Games will witness the participation of 6000 athletes from over 50 European countries competing in 20 sports events. The event owned, organised and regulated by the European Olympic Committee is going to be held every four years. European games received thumbs up when 84% of the countries voted in favour of these games at the general assembly of the European Olympic Committee in December 2012 at Rome. Azerbaijan is all set to host the biggest international sports event besides the scheduled European Grand Prix in 2016 and four matches in 2020 European Football Championship. In a move to bolster its image in the global world the Caucasian country was intent on holding the Games. Government strongly believes sports have the biggest potential to put the country on the global platform. Azerbaijan made phenomenal development strides in the span of twenty four years of its independence and could successfully bid for the international event.

Azerbaijan, a secular, Muslim country was part of the mighty Soviet Union and proclaimed independence in October 1991 before the dissolution of USSR. After independence it slowly tried to integrate into European and Euro-Atlantic structure and developed active relations with EU and is in the process of obtaining membership. Critics believe that Azerbaijan which was part of the Soviet Union has been bestowed with the honour of conducting the games for dangling towards the west. Baku, the capital is a mix of historical architectural remnants and the modern constructions gleaming under the shine of the fantastic stadia. The games have come under heavy criticism from the human rights activists since the semi-authoritarian (dictatorial) government is trying to cover up the severe clamp down on freedom of speech and political opposition under the facade of extravagant sports infrastructure. In a run towards the games, many critics, human right activists and journalists were prosecuted and jailed on unfounded charges. Now journalists from major media agencies are denied entry into the country in contrary to the spirit of the sport. Beneath the glitz and glamour of the sports is the stark reality of vicious crackdown of freedom of expression. Heart rendering tales of the plight of the journalists who questioned the dictatorship of the government were silenced by the government officials.

Unfortunately modern sporting events besides providing an opportunity for countries to make an impact on the world map have become synonyms to Vanity fairs. Ostentatious display of opulence etched with extremely grandeur opening and closing ceremonies has become common place with governments splurging billions of dollars for the international events. Be it Beijing Olympics or Sochi Winter Games or the 2014 Brazil FIFA Cup humongous amounts of public money are splurged on decking up or modernising the sports facilities. Sports in modern era are largely believed to act as incentive and catalyst sparking new change by changing the perception about the country.

But the human right activists and journalists in Azerbaijan are largely worried about existence of severe oppression in the country. International community seems to be unaware of widespread violation of human rights in the country categorised by the absence of free and fair elections, rampant corruption, no freedom of press and partly controlled internet access. They demand systemic change in the institutions of civil society. Human right activists allege that Europe is ready to absolve Azerbaijan of all oppressive practices in return for the extravagant sporting event paid by it.

While a section believes games are the way to fast-track infrastructure investment vast majority wants the oil money to be invested for future generations instead of frittering away in construction of flame towers for games. According to a modest estimate the cost of developing the infrastructure is $ 10 billion and with all this frenetic building activity the competitions are going to be suboptimal as junior athletes are expected to feature in this edition of games.  In spite of the tough opposition from within the country the government is hell bent on building swanky stadiums. Like the Gulf countries Azerbaijan believes that investing in sports will help in enhancing political, economic and diplomatic good will among the galaxy of nations and pave way for a future beyond oil and gas. While there is a jarring disparity between the gleaming new constructions and the ram shackled suburbs, the feel good rhetoric surrounding the games is expected to make up for the severe criticism on its human rights record.

Countries are now increasing using sports to burnish their image and as an instrument of soft power. Sports espouse the values of peace and freedom of the nation and bestowing the honour of conducting the games in land swamped by cries of oppression is little too indignant. Uncomfortably a new era of sports diplomacy has already begun and in spite protests undeterred authorities are going ahead with their scheme of activities. The upcoming sport events in Qatar, Russia and Almaty symbolise the proliferation of this new trend.

 

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