Amsterdam to host 2016 European Athletics Championships

Amsterdam - 2016 European Athletics Championships

European Athletics has awarded the 2016 European Athletics Championships to Amsterdam.

The European Athletics Council made the decision Friday after the Royal Dutch Athletics Federation, city of Amsterdam and the Dutch Olympic Committee presented their candidacy to host the 23rd edition of the event.

European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said, “We are very pleased to confirm that Amsterdam will be the hosts of the European Athletics Championships in 2016. We are sure that we can look forward to a fantastic event.”

A number of international media representatives were on hand to report on the historic decision made at the 131st European Athletics Council meeting in Helsinki.

Amsterdam was ruled as the outstanding candidate ahead of Istanbul and Split to organise the premier continental athletics championships as it continues its two-year cycle in 2016.

The 2012 European Athletics Championships are scheduled for Helsinki, Finland, through 27 June to 1 July. The 2014 championships are in Zurich, Switzerland.

The Serbian capital of Belgrade will host the 2013 SPAR European Cross Country Championships, following the decision by the European Athletics Council in Helsinki.

The championships are scheduled for the second Sunday of December 2013.

The 2011 event will be held in Velenje, Slovenia, and the 2012 championships in Budapest, Hungary.