European Olympic Committees President Patrick Hickey said that the inaugural European Games has "won over the doubters, even with low profile athletics and swimming events, and its concept will pave the way for future successful editions," according to Justin Palmer of REUTERS. Hickey said, "The first Games are on the way to being extremely successful. We had our doubters because in the beginning people said this is a new product and could not work but I remind everyone that the Asian Games, which is the most successful continental games, started with seven sports and I think they now have something like 47. The biggest value is we were the only continent without a continental games and we have no history here, every sport was concerned with their own European championships." Hickey said that it was always "known that athletics and swimming, traditionally the blue riband events of any Games, would 'not be the real deal' in Baku." Hickey, however, was "more than encouraged" by comments from European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen that there could be a "more high-profile format for track and field at the next Games in four years' time." The Netherlands "pulled out of hosting the next edition" days before the opening ceremony in Baku because the Dutch government decided it would be a "financial burden." Hickey said that seven candidates have "emerged to replace the Dutch and the fact that the next edition would have more resonance for Olympic qualification could help attract the best competitors" (REUTERS, 6/24).
