Baku 2015

[jomifl]

Puzzled by the European games being held in Azerbaijan which I thought was in Asia I discovered that according to Wiki it is in Europe as is Kazahkstan...They are also listed as being in Asia...so for all we know the UK could be in Africa or even Australia :-)

[Marshwarble]

A number of countries are in both Europe and Asia-Russia and Turkey being the most well known.

[jomifl]

MW, I can see that Turkey is a borderline case for being included in Europe but Kazahkstan shares a border with China..

[johnny37]

Did not think of it until now. I think it is not in Europe. Is this a scaled down version of the Olympics? Who chose it? To what extent are GB involved?

[johnny37]

ps I see that a number of these countries have elbowed their way into Eurovision.

[Khandro]

I think the western end of K. is south but to the west of the Urals, so might just qualify as Europe, but not really Europe - Europe.

[ichkeria]

As a matter of fact Kazakhstan is not taking part, presumably because they already take part in the Asian Games.
Israel is, though, a country which by no stretch of the imagination is in Europe, but presumably has nowhere also to go.
Interestingly, Kosovo is also. Their first major international sporting event. Good news!

[jomifl]

Ichkeria, I'm surprised that Israel doesn't host a Jewish games ..

[ichkeria]

Ye-es. That might not really get off the ground

[Gromit]

Azerbajn is a transitional country - that it is in both Europe and Asia.
It appears in most lists of European countries. It is a major oil distribution country and has grown wealthy on the back of that, which may explain why they were awarded the European Games.