Paris to host European Athletics Championships in 2020

Paris will host the European Athletics Championships in 2020, shortly after the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympic Games, European Athletics confirmed on Friday.

The 26th edition of the tournament will take place at the Charlety Stadium here from August 26 to 30, 2020.

"I'm delighted to announce that the European Athletics Council has validated the Parisian project to host the European Athletics Championships 2020," said the President of European Athletics Svein Arne Hansen.

"It's an ambitious yet realistic project for our sport's return to the centre stage again shortly after the Olympic Games," he added.

The tournament saw its first comeback to Paris since 1938, and is expected to feature nearly 1,500 athletes from 51 member federations of the European Athletics.

"Hosting the European Championships in France provides a great opportunity for us to unify our members, and enable us to convey our values, namely setting new targets, commitment and solidarity," said French Athletics Federation President Andre Giraud.

The 20,000-capacity Charlety Stadium has hosted the Finals of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Grand Prix in 1994 and 2002. The 2017 IAAF Paris Diamond League meeting will also be held at the stadium on July 1.

--IANS

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