Taylor, who took Olympic gold at London 2012 in the under 60kg weight division, is the most decorated female boxer in history.

Her medal haul at major competitions stands at 17 golds, which in addition to her Olympic title includes five consecutive world titles, as well as five European golds.

"Baku 2015 will be great for European sport, and I am delighted to be involved both as an athlete ambassador and as a competitor," the 28-year-old said.

"I will be doing by best to raise the Games' profile and get the word out to as many people as possible."

The Baku athlete ambassadors will feature in marketing campaigns around the continent and on social media, representing their sport and promoting the first ever European Games.

"I have no doubt that Katie will do a great job of promoting Baku 2015 around the country, helping to build support for Ireland's athletes in Azerbaijan this summer," said Patrick Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, as well as the European Olympic Committees.

"As one of the world's leading competitors in any sport, you couldn't ask for a better ambassador for the first European Games."

Katie Taylor will promote the Games across Ireland in her new role ©Baku 2015



Current ambassadors include British Olympic taekwondo gold medallist Jade Jones, French rhythmic gymnast Kseniya Moustafaeva, Denmark's canoe sprinter René Holten Poulsen and Serbia's 3x3 basketball team comprising of Dušan Domović Bulut, Marko Savic, Marko Zdero and Dejan Majstorovic.

Further ambassadors are expected to be named at a later date.

Simon Clegg, chief operating officer of Baku 2015, added: "I am delighted to welcome Katie to the Baku 2015 team as an international athlete ambassador.

"To have a champion of her calibre backing the first European Games is a great endorsement of the event, and reflects the high level of competition we will see the summer.

"I am sure Katie will very much enjoy promoting the Games in Ireland through her role as an athlete ambassador, and we look forward to seeing her compete in Baku in June."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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