The 20th European Athletics Championships will commence on 27 July at the historic Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.

Sport is often cited as a powerful tool for social integration, health and well being and those qualities  will be in full view during the 20th  European Athletics Championships to be held in Barcelona starting July 26.

The ever growing social dimension of sports is worthy of special recognition and the Barcelona Provincial Council is addressing that by strongly promoting the idea of a "European Sports Day".

The main objective of the concept is to encourage the highest number of European citizens to actively participate in sport and physical activity  -- also an integral part of the vision of European Athletics.

European Athletics has joined hands with other international sports organisations such as the International Hockey Federation, European Handball Federation and global sports icons such as Rafael Nadal and Carles Puyol in promoting the concept of a European Sport’s Day.

European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said, “Barcelona 2010 is as much about the thousands of volunteers and spectators from across the continent as it is about the 1,370 athletes who are all set to give their best during the six days of the European Athletics Championships. The championships will demonstrate the power of sport to bring people from different nationalities and societies together."

European Athletics and the Local Organising Committee of Barcelona 2010 is also teaming up with UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to develop the next generation of leaders in the sport of athletics by staging the "European Athletics-UNESCO Young Leaders Forum" for up to 100 young people from 27 to 29 July in conjunction with the European Athletics Championships.

The emphasis of the programme will be on working out ways sport can be a vehicle for youth action in community development, and the importance of promoting athletics among youth to shape the future of the sport.