European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov has hailed the Rieti 2026 European Athletics U18 Championships as a memorable celebration of athletics, praising the outstanding performances on the track and in the field while highlighting the values of friendship, unity and respect.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Karamarinov thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the championships, which brought together Europe's most talented young athletes from 16-19 July.
"We are Rieti! And Rieti is the city of athletics," said Karamarinov. "Thank you to our athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, partners, the Local Organising Committee, the Municipality of Rieti, the Lazio Region and FIDAL for making these championships such a success."
"Incredible performances"
Reflecting on the championships, Karamarinov said the event would be remembered for both the exceptional standard of competition and the spirit shown by Europe's rising stars.
"We will remember this edition not only for the hot weather, but also for the incredible performances: 17 championship records, 12 world U18 leads, 24 European U18 leads, one European U20 record, three European U18 bests and 100 national U18 bests.
"But even more important than any record or statistic are the values our sport represents. The happy faces, the smiles, the friendships and the incredible atmosphere created by our youngest athletes throughout these four days are what made these championships truly special. Thank you all!"
The curtain falls on another outstanding edition of the European Athletics U18 Championships, with Rieti once again reaffirming its place as one of Europe's great athletics hosts and a fitting stage for the continent's next generation of stars.
The sixth edition of the European Athletics U18 Championships will take place in Tallinn, Estonia on 3-6 August 2028.