SPORTS
Baku 2015 signs broadcast deal with Cuba’s ICRT
Baku, May 12, AZERTAC
Baku 2015 European Games today announced a further television deal for coverage of the inaugural event outside Europe, this time with the Cuban television station Instituto Cubano de Radio y Television (ICRT).
The station, Cuba’s free-to-air broadcaster, reaches 3.8m households in the country, and is also Cuba’s official broadcaster of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year.
Mr Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, said: “This is our first broadcast deal in Latin America, but I am extremely confident that it will not be the last. Cuba is a country with a great sporting history, and I have no doubt that ICRT’s viewers will enjoy following the action in Baku.
“The Baku 2015 European Games will complement ICRT’s coverage of the Olympic Games perfectly. Twelve of the 16 Olympic sports to feature at Baku 2015 will offer qualification opportunities for Rio 2016, so there is a natural synergy there.”
Cuba joins the United States and Canada, the Arab world, India, China, Hong Kong and Australia in showing extensive coverage of the European Games.
Mr Roberto Gonzalez, Director General of ‘Canal Tele Rebelde’ at ICRT, added: “I have no doubt that the Cuban public will enjoy following this new important sporting event. Our viewers are passionate about sport, and the Baku 2015 European Games will be a fantastic display of sport and inspiration alongside the Olympic Games in our portfolio of major international competitions.”
Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place from 12 – 28 June 2015.
There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. Almost 6,000 athletes and coaches from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.
Twelve of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Volleyball and Wrestling.
Baku was awarded the Games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012. The Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) will organise and run the Games in cooperation with the EOC.
Tickets for Baku 2015 can be purchased directly from sales outlets, or bought online at www.baku2015.com/tickets. Online purchase confirmation receipts can then be exchanged at any of the city ticket outlets at the following locations: Park Bulvar, 28 Mall, Metro Park, the Heydar Aliyev Palace on Bulbul Avenue, Azerbaijan Cinema on A. Alizadeh Street, Nizami Street at the corner with Bulbul Avenue, Freedom Square, and ASAN Service Yasamal on Abbas Mirza Sharifzadeh Street, as well as at the Neftchilar, Ehmedli and Fountain Square McDonald’s restaurants.