BT Sport has secured the exclusive UK rights to broadcast daily coverage of the inaugural European Games in Baku this summer.
A number of Team GB’s London 2012 heroes, including boxer Nicola Adams, judoka Gemma Gibbons and taekwondo player Jade Jones, will be in action in Azerbaijan what will be the continent’s first ever major multi-sport event as 50 nations compete across 20 sports.
Throughout the 17 days of sporting action, from June 12-28, BT Sport will screen a selection of live coverage from events across the games on their three TV channels – BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2 and ESPN, as well as via the BT Sport Extra red button service, and digital platforms.
Devised by the European Olympic Committee and launched at their General Assembly in Rome in December 2012, the European Games is a continental multi-sport event along the lines of an Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
In total, 50 European countries will bring around 6,000 athletes to compete in Azerbaijan to compete in the 20 sports on show, which will encompass 30 disciplines. Of those sports, 16 are Olympic events, while the other four – karate, basketball 3×3, beach soccer and sambo – are new sports to this format.
The other 16 sports are aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, volleyball, boxing, canoe, cycling, judo, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon and wrestling.
Commenting on the announcement of the UK TV rights deal for the first European Games, Simon Clegg, chief operating officer of Baku 2015, said: “The fit between BT Sport and the European Games is perfect.
“BT Sport have burst onto the British broadcasting scene, and Baku 2015 is the most significant event to join the European sporting calendar in half a century.”
Clegg added: “BT Sport has already proven the high level of their programming through their coverage of the English Premier League, and their ambition is shown by having secured the rights to the UEFA Champions League from next season.
“We are delighted that they have become the latest leading network to ensure the broadcast of the first ever European Games.”
Team GB will be competing in 13 disciplines at Baku 2015, with ten of these taking on extra significance as they offer opportunities to qualify for World Championships – which then, in turn, offer the chance for athletes to secure places at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
A number of familiar names from London 2012 are among the 153 athletes selected by the British Olympic Association to represent Team GB in Baku, including Nicola Adams – the first woman to win an Olympic boxing title.
“It will be great to compete again in the Team GB vest and I am really looking forward to the European Games,” said Adams.
“I have a very good track record in multi-sports events and I hope this will be another enjoyable experience and useful preparation for the Olympics in Rio next year.”
Taekwondo golden girl Jade Jones is another combat sport star from London 2012 heading to Azerbaijan, as is judo silver medallist Gemma Gibbons who is hoping that a successful couple of weeks in Baku will kickstart her campaign for Olympic glory in 2016.
“The Games are of increased significance for me because not only do they double up as the judo European Championships, they also represent an important step on our road to Rio with the chance to gain ranking points for the Olympic Games next summer,” said Gibbons.
BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch daily coverage of the first ever European Games this June, with the event joining the network’s sporting portfolio which includes live Barclays Premier League games, FA Cup, WTA tennis, Aviva Premiership and European club rugby, MotoGP and, from August, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football.
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