European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov believes all the ingredients are in place for Birmingham 2026 to be the “best ever” European Athletics Championships as the city prepares to welcome a record number of athletes for seven days of competition.
In summary:
- President Karamarinov expects Birmingham 2026 to be “best ever”
- UKA CEO Buckner wants athletics to “boss European sport” this week
- Olympic and European gold medallist Denise Lewis thrilled with evolution of her former training venue
Speaking at the pre-event press conference at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on Sunday (9), Karamarinov highlighted the scale and quality of the championships, which take place from 10-16 August and will be staged in the United Kingdom for the first time.
“We have everything on the table, so that on Sunday evening we can say it was the best ever European Athletics Championships,” said Karamarinov.
Birmingham represents the culmination of a busy 2026 season for European Athletics and its flagship championships will bring together all 49 current Member Federations and a record 1600 athletes.
For the first time, the programme will also comprise 50 disciplines with the introduction of the mixed 4x100m, while 36 broadcasters are set to provide more than 2000 hours of coverage around the world.
“We are now at the top of 2026, after the success of Nicosia, La Spezia, Monaco, Ljubljana-Kamnik, Rieti, we are now here in Birmingham for our flagship event to make history to be in the United Kingdom for the first time for the European Athletics Championships,” said Karamarinov.
“All our 49 current Member Federations are here, there are 1600 athletes which is a record and for the first time, we have 50 disciplines. We have 36 broadcasters – it’s a record – and broadcasting more than 2000 hours all over the world.
“There are ten reigning world champions, seven Olympic champions here – our best athletes are here and not only because we continue our performance bonuses programme, because it is the European Athletics Championships.”
Karamarinov also thanked UK Athletics, the local organising committee, the City of Birmingham, European Athletics staff, volunteers and the event’s commercial partners for their contributions to the championships.
He made particular reference to SPAR, which is celebrating 30 years of partnership with European Athletics in 2026.
Buckner looking forward to athletics bossing European sport
UK Athletics CEO Jack Buckner believes the championships represent an opportunity for athletics to take centre stage across Britain and Europe over the coming week.
“This is a big moment for our sport in the UK and across Europe,” said Buckner. “You look at the next week and you also look at the coverage.
"We're live in this country on BBC every night for two hours on the prime channel with fantastic support and then all the way across Europe, so it's a massive moment and I want us and our great sport to dominate the sporting landscape for the next week.
“We want to kind of boss European sport over the next week and we can forget about football transfers for a little bit, and we can just enjoy the best athletes in the world.”
The championships also carry particular personal significance for Buckner, who is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his 5000m gold medal at the Stuttgart 1986 European Athletics Championships.
Four decades on, he is eagerly anticipating Monday’s 5000m final at the Alexander Stadium, where Olympic and defending European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen is set to make his first appearance of the season after an Achilles injury kept him out of the opening part of the year.
“I’m so glad Jakob’s running. I just think that’s fantastic,” said Buckner. “When an athlete’s been through so many challenges, to turn up in his first race in the European Championship, put yourself on the line like that, it’s pretty remarkable.
“I’d love him to do well really just because of the courage to do that.”
"Home is where the heart is"
For UK Athletics President Denise Lewis, Birmingham 2026 will be especially poignant.
The 2000 Olympic heptathlon champion and 1998 European champion trained at the Alexander Stadium during her career and reflected on her connection with the venue and the transformation it has undergone.
“This is home and home is where the heart is,” said Lewis. “There used to be a little spot not too far from here where I used to have my little cat naps before my training sessions.
“This track, this facility means the world to me and so to see its evolution, its growth and what we actually look at today gives me a great sense of pride.
“But it’s not just about my pride, it’s the pride of Birmingham and finally we’re hosting the European Athletics Championships, which for me just shows the growth and the aspiration and hopefully by the end of these seven days that inspiration and that impact of what sport can do.”