Baku 2012: Buildings Commissioned & Upgraded

The Tofig Bahramov Stadium (pictured) in Baku, Azerbaijan, will be overhauled and improved to the tune of almost €9 million, abc.az today reports. The order was issued by the country’s President, Ilham Aliyev. Whilst no decision has been made as to where the Eurovision Song Contest would be held in Baku next year, ABC believe that the Tofig Bahramov Stadium is “the main candidate” to be the venue unless a company that can build a 20,000 seater arena within eight months comes forward very soon. Certainly the latest injection of cash into the venue would point to its possible use for next year’s competition. “The Ministry of Youth & Sports for capital repairs and reconstruction of the Stadium” read a press release, which explained that there will be “measures to strengthen the material and technical base of the Stadium”.

Update:
President Ilham Aliyev has also today signed a decree on the construction of a state-of-the-art sport and concert complex.in Baku. The State Property Committee is to act as the client in the design and construction of the complex, reports say.  The Baku City executive authorities have been tasked with the selection and allocation of land for the complex, whilst the Cabinet of Ministers is instructed to take appropriate measures to fund the construction work within one month and deal with other issues arising from the decree. It has been suggested by news.az that this venue could also potentially be used for Eurovision 2012.

The EBU has still yet to officially award the 2012 contest to Azerbaijan, pending security, VISA, and freedom of expression guarantees from the would-be host country.