He added that there would be further announcements on broadcasting deals within the next fortnight.

Clegg's comments followed the announcement that Baku 2015 have signed an agreement with NEO Sports to bring coverage of this summer's inaugural event to India.

With this latest agreement, the Baku 2015 European Games has now announced deals to broadcast the Games in 55 countries around the world, including the United States, China, and across the Arab world.

On the subject of Britain and Russia, who have still to agree deals, Clegg told insidethegames: "We are still progressing those discussions, and I remain confident that we will have a positive outcome both in the United Kingdom and in Russia."

He added: "I am incredibly pleased and proud about the level of TV broadcasting rights we have been able to achieve, not only in Europe but across the whole of the globe.

"There are 148 million households in Europe that now have access to the Games, and obviously with the deal in China with CCTV, that alone is 447 million households we have access to.

"You will have seen that recently we have announced North America and Canada with Universal Sports - and we have a number of other large announcements both in Europe and outside which we are confident we will be able to announce within the next couple of weeks."

Asked if those announcements would include the British and Russian deals, Clegg responded: "You shouldn't assume that.

"But if they do I would be delighted. Let's just say that there are some others that are closer to finalising than those other ones."

Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer for the Baku 2015 European Games, talks to Mike Rowbottom today about his hopes for the future sales of television broadcasting rights ©ITG

The deal with India ensures that Baku 2015 will be broadcast across the country on the NEO Sports and NEO Prime channels.

Daily news and highlights of Baku 2015 competitions will be shown during prime viewing times, and the Games will be promoted through these channels and the network website.

The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will also be screened live.

NEO Sports has a strong roster of international sporting broadcast rights, including the WTA Tour, French Open, Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the German Bundesliga, and PGA Tour, amongst others.

"I am delighted to welcome NEO Sports as our latest broadcast partner, and look forward to them sharing the first European Games with India's sport fans," Clegg said.

"India has the second-largest population in the world and is a major sporting nation.

"As well as highlighting the broad appeal of Baku 2015, this deal takes the European Games brand and message further than ever."

NEO Sports has a strong portfolio of events, including cricket ©NEO Sports

Mautik Tolia, executive vice-president at NEO Sports, said: "Our viewers are passionate about top-level sport from around the world, and I have no doubt that they will enjoy following the action in Baku this summer.

"The European Games will be an important new fixture in the international sporting calendar, and NEO Sports is proud to be bringing the competition to fans across India."

Reflecting upon the achievements of the organisers given that there was a lead time of just 30 months for the inaugural European Games, Clegg added: "We have gone to the commercial market place both for sponsorship and for broadcasting rights sales with a blank piece of paper and a bunch of promises.

"And to deliver what has been delivered I think has been quite remarkable.

"For the 148 million European households, the average coverage across all those countries is 5.1 hours a day.

"We've got the Ceremonies which are a stand-alone, full daily highlights, which are also a stand-alone item, and then we've got four broadcasting channels effectively giving people the option of what they want to take.

"I think already that we have achieved greater global coverage for this event than either the Asian Games or the Pan-American Games, and they have been around since 1951.

"For an inaugural Games, that is quite remarkable.

"I think it was the head of a rights holding broadcaster we announced, who said this was the most important new global sports event in the last 50 years.

"And as [International Olympic Committee President] Thomas Bach has said, this is the final ring in the Olympic symbol of continental events."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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