The Olympic Council of Ireland has announced the first group of athletes who will represent Ireland at the inaugural European Games being held in Baku, Azerbaijan in June.
Thirty-six athletes from 10 sports, including Olympians such as Katie Taylor, Derek Burnett, Chloe Magee, Scott Evans and Aileen Reid are in the initial squad announced, and the OCI expects to eventually field a squad of over 60 athletes to compete in 13 sports at the games.
Pat Hickey, President of the OCI called the games as an excellent addition to Ireland's sporting calendar.
"With many of the sports offering Olympic qualification possibilities for Rio 2016, these inaugural Games have caught the sporting imagination throughout the Continent and will be a superb and inspiring event," Hickey said.
TEAM IRELAND (initial selection): Archery: Sinead Cuthbert Cunningham, Darren Wallace; Badminton: Chloe Magee, Josh Magee, Rachel Darragh, Sarah Boyle, Scott Evans, Sam Magee; Basketball (3x3): Niamh Dwyer, Grainne Dwyer, Suzanne Maguire, Orla O'Reilly; Judo: Eoin Fleming; Karate: Karen Dolphin; Shooting: Derek Burnett; Swimming: Rory McEvoy, Mona McSharry, Rachel Bethel, Danielle Hill, Emma Reid, Andrew Moore, James Brown, Benjamin Doyle, Alan Corby, Niamh Kilgallen, Kate Baguley, Iseult Hayes, Natasha MacManus (diving); Triathlon: Aileen Reid, Russell White, Aaron O'Brien; Womens Boxing: Katie Taylor, Michaela Walsh, Ciara Smith; Wrestling: Alex Dolly, Soslan Tuaev.
