What will the CIS games give to Ganja?

Azerbaijan is gearing up to host the third installment of the CIS Games in 2025, with the city of Ganja, the country's second-largest, chosen as the venue. Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Mariana Vasileva revealed plans for a state-of-the-art complex under construction in Ganja to facilitate the games.

This move follows the inaugural CIS Games held in Russia in 2021 and the ongoing second edition taking place in Minsk, Belarus, until August 14.

Azerbaijan boasts a track record of hosting international sporting events, including the European Games in 2015 and the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017, both held in Baku. However, such undertakings have often ignited disputes within the country.

The announcement of Ganja as the venue for the CIS Games has prompted new debates. Some residents, like Jahangir Amirkhanli of the Musavat party, argue against hosting the games in Ganja, citing the city's challenging socio-economic conditions, including high unemployment rates and inadequate access to water. Amirkhanli emphasized  in an interview with Radio Azadlig that funds allocated for the games could be better employed to address pressing issues.

Meanwhile, economist Natig Jafarli dismisses the significance of the CIS Games, asserting that they lack tourist appeal and global sports relevance. He suggests that holding competitions involving the Turkish Republics might generate more interest among fans.

Though the executive power of Ganja has yet to officially respond to these perspectives, Musa Guliyev, a member of the New Azerbaijan Party, takes a differing view. Guliyev highlights the benefits of the CIS Games, emphasizing the allocation of funds to address Ganja's problems and stressing the potential for economic and tourism opportunities. He urges a separation of issues, defending the games as a platform to promote Azerbaijan on the world stage.

Guliyev told Turan that he acknowledges the inevitability of challenges but contends that both individuals and the government share the responsibility to address them.

While the discussions continue, it's worth noting that the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was established in 1991 following the dissolution of the USSR, comprising former Soviet republics except Georgia and the Baltic states.