Setanta Sports, Ireland's leading premium sports network, reaches more than 1.2 million homes in the country, and also broadcasts major events such as the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, the European Rugby Champions Cup, and Formula One Grand Prix.

They will broadcast eight hours of sporting competition per day, as well as daily highlights packages and both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies in the Azerbaijani capital.

Journalists from the company will also be present, focusing on Irish athletes participating at the Games, with the likes of London 2012 Olympic boxing champion Katie Taylor among possible participants.

"I am delighted that Setanta Sports and Baku 2015 have reached an agreement to bring the inaugural European Games to the Irish public," said Baku 2015 chief operating officer Simon Clegg.

"Our aim is to share the European Games with the widest possible audience, and we will continue working hard to ensure this."

London 2012 Olympic champion Katie Taylor could be one high profile Irish athlete competing in Baku ©Getty Images


Following this agreement, organisers have now announced deals to broadcast the Games in 51 countries around the world, with seven having been announced this month alone: in Finland, Greece, Spain, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia and Portugal.

Discussions are still underway to sign more deals, particularly in Great Britain, with European Olympic Committees President Patrick Hickey saying last month that organisers were "close" to an agreement with BT Sport.

But Hickey, also President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, was unsurprisingly pleased today following the agreement with Setanta. 

"The Irish delegation to the Baku 2015 European Games will be a strong one, and it's wonderful that our athletes will be able to count on the support of fans back home thanks to this broadcast agreement," he said.

"It's also great news for sport in Ireland, as the first European Games will be an inspirational event for our young people and the general public to enjoy."

The Games are scheduled to take place from June 12 to 28.
 
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