One day ahead of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov has hailed Lagoa 2025 for a record number of participants in the event’s 31-year-history.
The SPAR European Cross Country Championships will be streamed live on the European Athletics website from 8:55am local time (9:55am CET)
Speaking at the official press conference at the Arade Congress Centre next to the event course on Saturday, he is eagerly expecting a memorable event on Sunday (14).
“We have 582 athletes to participate,” he said. “We still wait for the final figures, but we can bravely and proudly say that this is the record number of participants ever.
“As my good friend - the President of Portuguese Federation says - it will be the best ever European Cross Country Championships. I believe that we will see tomorrow. But still, we have the first record, record of participants, congratulations."
Very successful year
As 2025 draws to a close, he also took the opportunity to look back on the year passed. “I am delighted to be here to be here in Lagoa. It has been a very successful 2025 for European Athletics, starting in Apeldoorn at our European Athletics Indoor Championships. We have delivered all of our competitions, all of our corporate events on the real high level," he said.
“But now on the final stage, we're here in Lagoa with the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Portugal. The country will love this event.
“This is a fourth time the SPAR European Cross Country Championships have been here in Portugal. The first race cross country here was 1911.
“Eight medallists from our last European Athletics Championships in Rome are here, including Nadia Battocletti. Thank you for coming. And also 11 medallists from our and the U20 and U23 championships are also here.”
A vibrant atmosphere
He was joined at the press conference by Portuguese Athletics Federation President Domingos Castro, who promised a “vibrant” event and stressed the cross country heritage of Portugal.
“It is with great honour that, on behalf of the Portuguese Athletics Federation, I welcome to Lagoa all the athletes who will be participating in the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, all the coaches, federation officials, judges and representatives of European Athletics,” he said.
“Hosting a European championship is always a major event for national sport: it requires competence, responsibility and vision, and we want Portugal to rise to this challenge once again.
“Lagoa has prepared thoroughly to host this major competition. The course has been carefully designed and tested in the National Championships and is ready to welcome today's best athletes, from reigning European champions to rising young talents.
“Cross-country running is particularly important for Portugal. I have experienced this discipline intensely, I know what it means to compete in a European Championship and the unique energy that an enthusiastic crowd can convey.
"It is this atmosphere that we want to recreate: a vibrant environment, capable of pushing athletes beyond their limits.
“I would like to thank European Athletics for the trust they have placed in us, Lagoa Municipal Council for their tireless dedication, the Algarve Athletics Association and all the partners and teams who have worked to ensure that this European Championship has the quality that Portugal deserves.
“May this championship be a celebration of our athletics: of talent, overcoming adversity and European spirit. May families fill the park, may our athletes feel the support of the whole country and may Lagoa remain in everyone's memory as a stage for great moments.
“A special word for our national team, which arrives here motivated, ambitious and capable of fighting for great results, battling inch by inch with the best in Europe. Thank you very much to everyone. May it be a European Championship to remember.”
