The deal gives L'Equipe 21 exclusive broadcasting rights to the Inaugural European Games on television, as well as through their online and mobile platforms.

The company will broadcast live coverage of the Baku 2015 Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as a guaranteed five hours of live action per day and an evening broadcast of daily highlights.

"This agreement is the latest major deal that will ensure avid sports fans throughout the continent will be able to follow their nation's athletes at the inaugural European Games," said Simon Clegg, chief operating officer at Baku 2015.

"As one of the biggest nations in Europe, we expect France to send a strong team with approximately 250 athletes to Baku 2015 in pursuit of glory, so it is wonderful to know their fans at home will be able to tune in to all the action.

"L'Equipe 21 is dedicated to sport and we are confident that their high-quality product will reflect the elite athletes and competition that will be on display at Baku 2015."

L'Equipe 21 is the official broadcasting partner of the French Olympic Committee and the deal with Baku 2015 has been welcomed by its President Denis Masseglia ©Getty Images



L'Equipe 21, which launched in 1998 and currently has 0.2 per cent of the television market share in France, according to monitoring group Médiamétrie, will also broadcast a special one-off programme to mark 100 days to go until Baku 2015.

They will also feature a weekly report on athletes preparing for the European Games in the French National Olympic Committee magazine Esprit Bleu.

"The Baku 2015 European Games will be a highlight of the international sporting calendar, so we are delighted to have the responsibility of broadcasting the inaugural edition in France," said Xavier Spender, L'Equipe 21 general manager.

"As a sporting spectacle, it will capture the imagination of fans across the world and we are very proud to be helping to bring the event live to all of our viewers in France."

Denis Masseglia, President of the French Olympic Committee, added: "We are very pleased that Baku 2015 and L'Equipe 21, our media partner since 2012, have signed this partnership that will allow our fans to follow live action from the first European Games.

"We will be sending a strong team to compete at Baku 2015 and it is good to know that their efforts and achievements will be available to watch live to their supporters in France."

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