What we did on our holidays: Amazing Tents in Azerbaijan for the European Games

The Amazing Tents team are usually extremely busy during summer, installing event tents, marquees and SaddleSpan stage covers at top UK festivals such as Glastonbury and Creamfields.

However, this year, we took on a brand new challenge on top of everything else – in Baku, Azerbaijan!

Amazing Tents headed over to Baku ahead of the 2015 European Games, the very first edition of the event that has ever been held, and which launched on 12th June 2015.  Our job was to provide weather cover for the President of Azerbaijan as he witnessed the lighting of the torch, just like in the Olympic Games. The rally torch was lit in a ceremony in the historic Temple of the Eternal Flame, which is just outside the city.

Battling the weather

Baku is one of the windiest cities in Europe, which the team experienced first-hand when trying to assemble the canopy tent chosen for the job. A S5000 SaddleSpan Canopy was judged to be the best structure to withstand the winds, which were regularly 45mph and on occasion reached gust speeds of 65mph according to the tent’s anemometer – for those not in the know, those are Gale Force 10 speeds!

In addition to the extremely windy conditions, there was another challenge to overcome. The Temple of the Eternal Flame is on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning that there are serious restrictions on what you can use to install a structure. Stakes could not be used, so to keep the event tent rigid and secure – a number of one ton blocks were employed. Tiring work, but definitely worth it to keep the structure in place without damaging the site.

The sturdy S5000 performed magnificently, being rock solid throughout and providing the President with protection from the weather as he witnessed the ceremony.

It really does show the versatility of the award-winning SaddleSpan structure, especially the canopy. From providing a stage cover with excellent acoustics, weather protection and aesthetic appeal for some of the biggest rock bands in the world to sheltering the President of Azerbaijan as he launches a brand new international event in an UNESCO World Heritage site – is there anything this sturdy little event tent can’t do?

About the 1st European Games

Amazing Tents were really excited to be chosen to help out at this event, as it is the inaugural edition of a brand new international Games competition. What makes the European Games different from other European competitions is that it is a multi-sport event, created and managed by the National Olympic Committees of Europe. Around 6000 athletes competed in 20 sports, from gymnastics and athletics to aquatics, badminton, judo and wrestling.

Azerbaijan and Baku city leaders were understandably delighted to be chosen to host the very first edition of the Games, and Amazing Tents were honoured to be even a small part of making it all happen.


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The UK Festival Awards 2015

Amazing Tent attended The UK Festival Awards last month at the Roundhouse, Camden to cheer on their festival friends and help celebrate the UK’s best music festivals in the country.

Congratulations to all the winners listed below:

Best Use of New Technology
WINNER: GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL FOR ARCADIA SPECTACULAR

The Extra-Festival Activity Award
WINNER: THE BIG FEASTIVAL FOR THE WHEAT PROJECT

Concession of the Year
WINNER: THE BREAKFAST CLUB

Best Hospitality
WINNER: WILDERNESS FESTIVAL

Best Toilets
WINNER: KENDAL CALLING

The Brand Activation Award
WINNER: VIRGIN TRAINS

Agency of the Year
WINNER: CAA

Promoter of the Year
WINNER: LOST VENTURES

Anthem of the Summer
WINNER: MARK RONSON – UPTOWN FUNK

Headline Performance of the Year
WINNER: FLEETWOOD MAC AT ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL

Line-Up of the Year
WINNER: LATITUDE

Best New Festival
WINNER: WILD LIFE FESTIVAL

Best Festival for Emerging Talent
WINNER: LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Grass Roots Festival Award
WINNER: BEAUTIFUL DAYS

Best Overseas Festival
WINNER: ANNIE MAC PRESENTS: LOST & FOUND

Best Metropolitan Festival
WINNER: LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY

Best Dance Event
WINNER: CREAMFIELDS

Best Family Festival
WINNER: ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL

Best Non-Music Festival
WINNER: EROICA BRITANNIA

Best Small Festival
WINNER: FESTIVAL NUMBER 6

Best Medium-Sized Festival
WINNER: Y NOT FESTIVAL

Best Major Festival
WINNER: BESTIVAL

And of course,

The Outstanding Contribution to Festivals Award
WINNER: PETER GABRIEL

 

 

 


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