The British Olympic Association (BOA) today announced the 153 athletes selected to represent Team GB at this summer’s inaugural European Games in Baku. Double Olympian, Helen Jenkins, features in a squad of six British triathletes.
Team GB will compete across 13 sports and 19 disciplines at Baku 2015, as 50 European nations come together for the continent’s first ever major multi-sport event from June 12th – 28th this year.
Click here to view the full team. Helen Jenkins is joined by Jess Learmonth and Heather Sellars in the women’s triathlon line up. The men’s team features Gordon Benson, Tom Bishop and Phil Graves.
In total, 20 sports make up the programme for the 17 days of action in Baku and over 6,000 athletes are expected in Azerbaijan to compete across the 253 medal events.
Team GB’s Chef de Mission Mark England said: “It’s fantastic to be able to announce the athletes who will be competing for Team GB at Baku 2015. It’s great opportunity for many of them to test themselves against Europe’s best, gain crucial multi-sport Games experience or build on their road to Rio 2016.
“I’m also delighted to see such a large team from Great Britain heading out to Baku - our largest travelling delegation since the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games – and I’m sure it’ll be a hugely proud moment for each of them.”
Helen Jenkins said: "I'm really excited to be part of Team GB again. Just over a year out from Rio, the European Games will provide a really good racing experience in a different sort of environment to the rest of the triathlon calendar this year.”
British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell, said: “The European Games offers a Rio quota place for triathlon, so it’s an important competition in our qualification strategy. Alongside this our key objectives for Baku are to give athletes the opportunity to experience a multi sport environment where they are part of a wider British team and the opportunity to win a European title."
He added: "We’re pleased to have a squad that includes experienced as well as developing athletes.”
Team GB fans will be able to watch the team in action as BT Sport today announced that they will provide daily coverage of the Games.
The broadcast deal is the latest in a series signed by Baku 2015, with the event’s broadcast reach now stretching to all corners of Europe and across the globe.
