European Games must be Olympics springboard - Baku 2015 chief

Simon Clegg speaks at a news conference about the International Olympics Committee's inspection of London June 12, 2007. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor

BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Games, starting from the inaugural event in Azerbaijan next year, must become a springboard for the Olympics with athletes attracted by qualification opportunities, the head of the Baku 2015 European Games said on Friday.

Baku 2015 Chief Operating Officer Simon Clegg, formerly the British Olympic Association's first chief executive, told Reuters in an interview that offering Olympic qualification was a key to establishing the event in a crowded global sports calendar.