Baku 2015: Olympic champions Nicola Adams, Jade Jones and Ed McKeever in Great Britain team for European Games
The event starts on 12 June
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Your support makes all the difference.Olympic champions Nicola Adams, Jade Jones and Ed McKeever head a 153-strong Great Britain team named for the inaugural European Games in Baku in June.
The trio are the three biggest names who have confirmed to compete in the Azeri capital but the squad list is equally notable for those who have elected to stay away.
British Cycling has decided not to send any competitors to the event despite its programme including road race, BMX and mountain-biking disciplines.
A British Cycling spokesperson said: "We won't be sending a team to the Baku 2015 European Games as it doesn't fit in with the training and competition plans for any of the Great Britain Cycling Team squads this year. We will look to support future editions of the event though, should the timing allow."
Triathlon's Brownlee brothers and top gymnastics stars will also be absent, while aquatics events are restricted to age-level competitions and there is only a token athletics programme.
But Adams is part of a four-strong women's boxing squad also including former world champion Savannah Marshall and this year's world silver medallist Lisa Whiteside, while the men's boxing squad, set to be announced later, will also be strong.
Adams said: "It will be great to compete again in the Team GB vest and I am really looking forward to the European Games. I have a very good track record in multi-sports events and I hope this will be another enjoyable experience and useful preparation for the Olympics in Rio next year."
Jones was an Olympic gold medallist in taekwondo, and McKeever was a kayak champion at London 2012.
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 a 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."
Meanwhile it was announced that BT Sport will broadcast the Games which takes place from June 12 to 28 and involves 20 sports and more than 6,000 athletes.
Simon Clegg, chief operating officer of Baku 2015, said: "The fit between BT Sport and the European Games is perfect. BT Sport have burst onto the British broadcasting scene, and Baku 2015 is the most significant event to join the European sporting calendar in half a century."
PA
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