Albufeira (POR) & Velenje (SLO) to host the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in 2010 & 2011

The Portuguese team with European Athletics President Hansjorg Wirz

The Portuguese city of Albufeira and the Slovenian city of Velenje have been awarded the rights to host the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in 2010 and 2011 respectively at the 120th meeting of the European Athletics Council in Berlin today. 

Although Portugal hosted the event in Oeiras in 1997, Albufeira will host the event for the first time in two years time while Velenje have already hosted a very successful edition of the championships in 1999. 

The high powered Portuguese bid was led by the President of the Portuguese Federation Fernando Mota, the Mayor of Albufeira, Desiderio Silva, the President of the Algarve Athletics Association, Artur Lara Ramos, the President of the Albufeira Assembly, Carlos Silva e Sousa along with the General Secretary of the Portuguese Federation and European Athletics Council Member Jorge Salcedo.

Speaking after being awarded the event, Fernando Mota, President of the Portuguese Federation said: 

"A lot of hard work went into this bid by a large number of volunteers and we are delighted to have won the right to host the event in 2010.

The Slovenian Bid Team sign the contracts with Hansjorg Wirz and Treasurer Karel Pilny

"Along with the European Team Championships in Leiria next year, we are now determined to use these two high profile events to inspire the next generation of Portuguese athletes and create real legacies from both Championships"

The course will be in Acoteias where the IAAF Almond Blossom Cross Country Grand prix takes place on an annual basis.

Velenje, which is located 85km in the north east of the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana will hold the event in the same city park which hosted the event in 1999.

The Bid was presented by Martin Steiner, who will be the LOC President and his son Luka Steiner who is the secretary of the AC Velenje along with Slovenian European Athletics Council Member Janez Aljancic.

"It's a great boost for athletics in our region and we are now determined to make the event a huge success" said Martin Steiner.

SPAR European Cross Country Championships

Host Cities:

1994 & 1995 - Alnwick (GBR), 1996 - Charleroi (BEL), 1997 - Oeiras (POR), 1998 - Ferrara (ITA), 1999 - Velenje (SLO), 2000 - Malmö (SWE), 2001 - Thun (SUI), 2002 - Medulin (CRO), 2003 - Edinburgh (GBR), 2004 - Heringsdorf (GER), 2005 - Tilburg (NED), 2006 -San Giorgio su Legnano (ITA), 2007 - Toro (ESP),

Future Hosts:

2008 - Brussels, (BEL), 2009 - Dublin (IRL), 2010 - Albufeira (POR), 2011 - Velenje (SLO)


Click here for all medallists from SPAR European Cross Country Championships