Hickey said that a deal was close with BT Sport, which has emerged in recent times as Sky's main rival in the market for live coverage of Premier League football matches.

Completion of such an agreement would ensure that the Games were broadcast in all four big West European markets, with deals already done for France, Germany and, most recently, Italy, where it was announced earlier this month that Sky Italia had secured exclusive rights.

Outside Europe, China Central Television added Baku 2015 to its Olympic portfolio last month, while the Arab States Broadcasting Union has agreed to provide coverage in 20 countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

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