For those who relish gigantic conglomerate-type sporting events, you will soon be able to add one more to your schedule. Historically, the title “European Championships” has been applied across all participating sporting disciplines’ respective competitions, with no true common connection as to location or frequency. The European Aquatics Championships takes place every 2 years, while the sport of rowing holds their Championships annually; one taking place in Berlin and the other taking place in Belgrade, for example.
Instead of these distinct and separate competitions, an effort is being made to coordinate a new multi-sport European Championships to occur at the same time of year, to be titled “European Sports Championships.” The governing bodies for athletics, swimming cycling, rowing and triathlon are on board to create a new concept of a mega European Sports Championships, which will bring together existing independent European Championships into one integrated multi-sport contested event to be hosted by the cities of Berlin and Glasgow in the summer of 2018.
The vision involves each respective sporting federation and host city still organizing each European Championship, however, the competition as a whole would partner with the European Broadcast Union (EBU) to deliver 2700 hours of programming to an audience of approximately 850 million over a 12-day period in July/August 2018.
The President of LEN, the overseeing organization of aquatics in Europe, Paolo Barelli, told the press that, “With the support and commitment of the major free-to-air broadcasters around the continent, the European Sports Championships will further build the prestige of becoming a champion of Europe and act as a powerful inspiration for youngsters to participate in our sports.“ EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot added, “We are delighted to be associated with this ground-breaking project that will encompass the rich diversity of European sports in a competitive event of the highest quality, which we will bring to the largest audience possible in all of Europe on a free-to air basis.”
Approximately 1500 athletes would compete at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin, with 2900 athletes simultaneously partaking in the other championships in Glasgow, with events taking place across several venues such as Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, Glasgow’s Tollcross International Swimming Center and Edinburgh’s Royal Commonwealth Pool.
Read the entire press release here.