By Emily Goddard

The 2014 European Taekwondo Championships will now be held in Baku and not Ukraine ©AFP/Getty ImagesJanuary 3 - The 2014 European Taekwondo Championship will now be held in Baku and not Ukraine as was originally planned after the European Taekwondo Union (ETU) experienced "communication difficulties" with the nation's state television firm that put the continental governing body's relationship with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) at "risk".

The ETU claims that it had to relocate the event to "achieve the best result for the athletes, all the involved sectors and now more than ever the TV viewers" as the issues with the national broadcasters led to delays in the governing body's contractual obligations with the EBU - which has a global multiplatform media rights, services and distribution deal with the organisation.

A spokesperson did, however, insist that the Ukrainian Taekwondo Federation showed an "excellent collaborating spirit".

Following consultations with the Azerbaijan Taekwondo Federation, Baku - host of the inaugural European Games in 2015 - was subsequently chosen as the new stage for the continental tournament, which will now be held on May 1 until 5.

"After consideration, the ETU discussed with the Azerbaijan's Taekwondo Federation and Baku was selected as the most efficient solution for the first live broadcasting of the Championships," read an ETU statement.

"Please notice that Baku will host the European Games in 2015 and taekwondo is one of the sports at the official programme, and there is a big sports and media mechanism already on progress."

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