European Athletics has awarded the 2014 European Athletics Championships to the Swiss city of Zurich.
The European Athletics Council made the unanimous decision Saturday morning after the Swiss athletics federation and city of Zurich presented their candidacy to host the 22nd edition of the event.
Zurich will be the second Swiss city to hold European Athletics' flagship event after country capital Bern hosted the fifth edition of the championships in 1954.
European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz, who is Swiss, said, 'We are very pleased to confirm that Zurich will be the hosts of the European Athletics Championships in 2014.
'Athletics is a hugely popular sport in Switzerland and we have been assured today that we can look forward to a fantastic event.'
Patrick K. Magyar, CEO of the newly incorporated 'Leichtathletik EM 2014 AG' that will oversee the championships and Weltklasse Zürich Meeting Director, said, 'Together with Athletissima Lausanne, we will be able to benefit from a thorough know-how in the realisation of international meetings.
Weltklasse Zürich and Athletissima Lausanne are two stops on the IAAF Diamond League circuit.
'Even though one-day events cannot be compared with the dimension of championships, we trust that our experience will be a valuable asset. And we know that the commitment and support of the Swiss athletics fans will help tremendously,' said Magyar.
A number of Swiss and international media representatives were on hand to report on the historic decision made at the 125th European Athletics Council meeting at the Hotel La Barcarolle on the banks of Lake Geneva in Prangins, Switzerland.
Zurich was the outstanding candidate among a number of interested cities to organise the premier continental athletics championships as it continues its two-year cycle in 2014.
Throughout the bidding process, the future organisers of the championships received a lot of support from both the Canton and the city of Zurich.
Zurich Canton Government Council President Dr. Hans Hollenstein said, 'Today's announcement is wonderful news. In Zurich, we attach great importance to sport. Being able to showcase athletics at such a high level provides us with the opportunity to highlight the importance of sport as such. The European Athletics Championships are an excellent platform that will reach a broad audience, and particularly young people.'
Zurich City Councillor Gerold Lauber said, 'Zurich's new Letzigrund Stadium represents a state-of-the-art championship venue. In addition, our city offers all necessary infrastructures for the event. We will not have to build any new facilities. This context - and the fact that athletics rates very high in our city - have certainly contributed to European Athletics' decision.'
Swiss Athletics President Hansruedi Müller said, 'Today's decision will boost the motivation of the young talents enrolled in the ‘Swiss Starters 2014' programme and the entire athletics community in Switzerland.'
European Athletics Member Federation Swiss Athletics launched in 2008 'Swiss Starters 2014', with the aim of sending a team of 30 athletes to represent Switzerland at the 2014 championships, which are scheduled for August.
The 2010 European Athletics Championships will take place in Barcelona through 26 July to 1 August. The 2012 championships are scheduled for Helsinki, Finland, through 27 June to 1 July.
For further information, contact:
James Mulligan
European Athletics Communication Manager
media@european-athletics.org
+41 21 313 43 57
+41 79 694 48 29 (mobile)
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