EBU Members and other broadcasters contracted via the EBU are preparing to offer more than 1,000 hours of linear TV coverage of the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023, plus additional coverage on their digital platforms, ahead of the start of the Games on 21 June.
Over 40 broadcasters operating in more than 50 territories* have already committed to showing at least part of the Games, with others expected to sign up in the coming days.
The agreement marks the EBU’s first involvement with the European Games, a pioneering, quadrennial multisport event that is set to celebrate its third edition in Poland this year.
In addition to the broadcasters’ coverage, fans will also be able to follow the European Games via the EBU free-to-watch europeangames.tv digital platform, ensuring that more than 1,500 hours of live and on-demand content is available to viewers around the world.
The Games will be watched with special interest by fans tracking the progress of teams and athletes on the ‘Road to Paris 2024’, with 17 sports and disciplines offering either direct quotas or ranking points for next year’s Olympic Games in the French capital.
Spyros Capralos, president of the EOC, said: “The EOC is delighted that our agreement with the EBU will see the European Games 2023 broadcast to over 40 countries around the world. This is Europe’s premier biggest multi-sport event, and we want as many fans as possible to be able to watch and enjoy the action.
“The motto of these Games is ‘We Are Unity’ and I know that Europe will be united in following the world-class sport, whether that is on the television, on the radio or via the EBU’s free-to-air European Games platform online. The EBU are valuable partners for the EOC and we look forward to continuing working with them in the future.”
Glen Killane, Executive Director of Eurovision Sport, added: “The EBU and our Members are thrilled to be part of the 2023 European Games which will offer thousands of European athletes the opportunity to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympic Games.
“This is Eurovision Sport’s first involvement in the European Games and with that we will bring unparalleled exposure across our Member and partner market-leading TV, radio and online platforms which will also be complemented by our own free-to-view European Games platform, meaning the public won’t miss out on any of their favourite events.”
The 2023 edition is the first to be staged since the European Olympic Committees (EOC) and Eurovision Sport signed a Memorandum of Understanding two years ago to work towards an exclusive agreement for the 2023 and 2027 editions of the European Games.
The EOC and Eurovision Sport finalised their exclusive media rights agreement last year, with the EBU offering its expertise in media rights distribution for the European Games of 2023 and 2027.
ABOUT THE EUROPEAN GAMES KRAKOW-MALOPOLSKA 2023
The European Games sports programme comprises 25 sports, acting as the European Championships of some sports and, in many cases, offering Olympic qualification for the athletes taking part.
The line-up is as follows:
Archery, Athletics, Aquatics, Badminton, Basketball 3×3, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe (sprint & slalom), Cycling (mountain bike and freestyle BMX), Fencing, Judo, Modern Pentathlon, Rugby Sevens, Sport Climbing, Shooting, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Beach Handball, Beach Soccer, Karate, Kickboxing, Padel, Ski Jumping (summer) and Teqball.
The programme includes several exciting sports that have newly or recently joined the Olympic programme. They are: Breaking (to be included in the Olympic programme for the first time in Paris in 2024); Sport Climbing (joined the Olympic programme in Tokyo in 2021); and Rugby Sevens (joined the Olympic programme in Rio de Janeiro in 2016).
Source: Ebu
