European Athletics Team Championships
@ Gateshead International Stadium 22 – 23 June 2013
British athletes will be aiming to relive two of their greatest ever team performances when the European Athletics Team Championships return to Gateshead International Stadium on 22-23 June 2013.
The fourth staging of the Championships is expected to see a host of stars, who performed so well at this summer’s London Olympic Games take part. They are hoping to add to the host nation victories that the men scored at the memorable European Cup in 1989 and 2000.
The two previous events in Gateshead read like a who’s who of British Athletics, with Colin Jackson, Sally Gunnell, Steve Backley, Linford Christie, Yvonne Murray and Darren Campbell amongst those who donned the Great Britain and Northern Ireland strip to take on the cream of Europe. The electric atmosphere generated inside the stadium is still fondly remembered by the stars of yesteryear.
Now the British camp will be hoping the more recent heroes of the London Olympic Games will be mounting a bid for a first win at the European Athletics Team Championships, the successor event to the European Cup. These include double 5,000m and 10,000m gold medallist Mo Farah, long jumper champion Greg Rutherford, heptathlon winner Jessica Ennis, Christine Ohuruogu the 400m silver medallist and Rob Grabarz, who shared the high jump bronze medal.
It won’t be an easy task for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team, particularly as the overall winners are based on combined men and women’s scores and the eleven opposing teams include the might of Russia and Germany.
Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council, said: “We’re delighted to welcome back European athletics to Gateshead International Stadium. The 2013 European Athletics Team Championships provides a fantastic opportunity for people in the North East to experience world-class athletics on their doorstep.”
“To be able to see Olympic medallists and competitors from this summer’s London 2012 Games, in two days of exciting competition in Gateshead, is sure to inspire local people, young and old alike. We have always had a proud passion for sport in this region. This event lets local people come and see high level sport for themselves while putting Gateshead back on the international sporting map.”
Ed Warner, Chairman of UKA, who supported Gateshead’s bid to bring the event to the North East, said, “After the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, it’s important that Great Britain continues to host top-level international athletics. The European Athletics Team Championships provides an exciting opportunity to see the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team competing on home soil less than a year after the Games. I have no doubt that this event will be a huge success, and we look forward to welcoming Britain and Europe’s best to Gateshead in June.”
The enthusiasm for the event was echoed by funding partners UK Sport. Director of Major Events and International Relations Simon Morton said: “The 2013 European Athletics Team Championships is one of 15 major sporting events we have secured for the UK post-London 2012, as part of the National Lottery backed Gold Event Series, to build on the momentum of the successful home Games.
“This event will provide a great platform for our athletes to compete in front of a home crowd, while offering the British public a fantastic opportunity to enjoy world-class athletics.”
Tickets for this prestigious event are now available at www.gateshead2013.com with prices starting at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.
