Organisers of the European Championships have announced that the seven federations scheduled to compete at the inaugural edition of the multi-sport event in 2018 have all agreed in principle to return for its second outing in 2022.
Organisers today (Tuesday) said European Athletics, the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN), European Cycling Union (UEC), European Union of Gymnastics (UEG), International Rowing Federation (FISA), European Triathlon Union (ETU) and golf’s European Tour and Ladies European Tour all committed to 2022 after preliminary discussions on the host venue selection process for future editions of the Championships.
In 2018, the existing senior European Championships of athletics, aquatics, cycling, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon will be brought together for the first time in Berlin and Glasgow, with a new Golf Team Championships also being introduced onto the European stage.
Around 1,500 athletes will compete in the German capital from August 7-12, 2018 as part of the European Athletics Championships. Approximately 3,025 athletes will travel to the Scottish city for the other six events between August 1-12.
European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen, co-chair of the European Championships Board, said there is already great interest from cities, regions and countries in hosting the 2022 European Championships following Berlin-Glasgow in 2018.
“This shows the value of our innovative concept – for the sports and the future bidding cities,” Hansen said. “It is obvious why all the participating sports want to carry on in 2022 as the European Championships is a sustainable event that brings together our existing championships without adding to a crowded calendar, and this is very attractive and affordable to a wide range of host cities.”
Preparations for the inaugural European Championships come with organisers locked in a dispute with the European Olympic Committees (EOC) over their respective events. The EOC held its inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan last year, but is yet to confirm the destination for its planned second event in 2019.
Hansen’s fellow co-chair Paolo Barelli, president of the LEN, added: “The inaugural edition in 2018 will deliver to the participating sports huge benefits in terms of aggregation, through a higher profile and reach through our media agreements with the European Broadcasting Union. This will ensure our long-term financial security as we are confident the championships will go from strength-to-strength through 2022 and beyond.”
The European Championships is collectively run by the participating federations and all decisions are made by the European Championships Board, which is jointly chaired by European Athletics and LEN. Each federation is independently responsible for their own sport within the concept.
