Katie Taylor to carry flag for Team Ireland at European Games

Olympic champion Katie Taylor has been chosen as Team Ireland’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony for the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, tomorrow.

The five-time AIBA World Elite lightweight champion will lead out Team Ireland at the 63,000 capacity Olympic Stadium in the Azeri capital, the Olympic Council of Ireland has confirmed.

Katie Taylor carrying the Irish flag at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics.

Team Ireland will take part in 14 sports at the inaugural tournament, including gymnastics, swimming, badminton and canoeing.

Taylor arrived in Baku earlier this week and is training with the 12-strong Irish boxing squad ahead of the Games.

Irish head coach Billy Walsh confirmed that Darren O’Neill will captain the Irish boxing squad at the Games.

O’Neill was Irish boxing skipper at the London 2012 Olympics, where Taylor led out Team Ireland.

6,000 athletes, representing 50 countries in 20 sports, are slated compete at Baku 2015.

Friday’s opening ceremony begins at 9pm, local time.