The continent's best athletes will compete at the 2012 European Athletics Championships following a renewed and unanimous commitment from all 50 of European Athletics' Member Federations.
Leaders of the national federations from across Europe gave their full support to the 2012 Championships, which will take place in Helsinki between 27 June and 1 July, at the recent European Athletics Convention held in Belgrade.
The 2012 European Athletics Championships will be a pivotal event on that year's athletics calendar as it comes just a few weeks before the Olympic Games later that summer in London.
European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz warmly welcomed the support at this weekend's European Athletics Council meeting in Lisbon.
'I am extremely heartened that our Member Federations are fully supporting the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki by committing to sending their best athletes,' said Wirz.
'A successful Helsinki 2012 featuring the continent's best athletes will increase the Championships' visibility, increase the intense interest in athletics during an Olympic year and add momentum to the sport ahead of the Games in London.
'Helsinki will be an ideal platform for athletes to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games as the Championships take places just a few days before the entry deadline.'
The French, German, Italian and Spanish federations – the 'G4' group – also reaffirmed their commitment to Helsinki 2012 at their meeting in Rome in late October, with the four federation presidents unanimously agreeing to send their top athletes to compete in the Finnish capital.
Helsinki 2012 will be the beginning of European Athletics' flagship championships following a two-year cycle. The Championships in 2012, and in other years when they coincide with the Olympics, will be held without the out-of-stadia events, i.e. the marathons and race walks.
'This change from a four-year cycle to a two-year cycle is a necessary one for our sport,' said President Wirz. 'It will increase the number of European champions – thus providing inspiration to a greater number of people on the continent, particularly younger ones.'