All eyes might be on the Slaski Stadium in Chorzów, Poland, this week with the venue enjoying host to the European Group Championships. Altogether there are 47 nations battling for honours in three divisions of the competitors. For athletics fanatics it can present a six-day feast of observe and subject.
The occasion takes place along side the third version of the European Video games and divisions two and three of the athletics motion will unfold on June 20-22 with the division one match on June 23-25. Listed here are the groups:
First division: Poland, Nice Britain, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, Finland, Belgium, Turkey, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Portugal
Second division: Denmark, Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Hungary, Slovenia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Latvia, Croatia, Iceland, Serbia, Cyprus, Moldova, Luxembourg
Third division: Eire, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Malta, Montenegro, Georgia, Armenia, Andorra, North Macedonia, San Marino, Albania, AASSE (Athletic Affiliation of Small States of Europe), Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Austria, Israel
The best way to watch
For UK viewers the BBC is planning to indicate the motion whereas you can even see it streamed reside right here, however look out for information, interviews and updates on the AW web site and social media channels, particularly the progress of the British crew within the division one match.
You’ll be able to view the timetable and outcomes right here.
Historical past
The occasion has a wealthy heritage and its forerunner – the European, or Europa, Cup – dates again to 1965 with Britain successful the boys’s “Tremendous League” title at Gateshead in 1989 and 2000, Munich in 1997, St Petersburg in 1998 and Annecy in 2002 and 2008.
On the 1989 occasion in Gateshead, for instance, a lot of Britain’s high stars on the time competed and the winners included Linford Christie, Colin Jackson, John Regis, Tom McKean, Steve Backley, Kriss Akabusi and Dalton Grant, with the reward of qualification for the IAAF World Cup.
Colin Jackson wins in 1989 (Mark Shearman)
In 2009 the assembly was reinvented because the “European Group Championships” with female and male athletes now in the identical squad and competing on the similar venue. There have been additionally controversial guidelines resembling subject eventers solely being allowed a restricted variety of makes an attempt and an elimination (or devil-takes-the-hindmost) factor in distance races, however the concepts have been criticised and subsequently dropped). Initially the brand new European Group Champs was within the type of 4 leagues, too, however there at the moment are simply three divisions.
The newest three editions of the occasion have been held in Poland – in Bydgoszcz in 2019 and Chorzów in 2021 and now 2023 – with the host nation making the most of dwelling assist by successful twice on the trot and now going for a hat-trick this week if they will triumph within the first division match.
Athletes in motion
Femke Bol has been in sensible kind this summer time already and represents the newly-promoted high division crew, the Netherlands.
Miltiadis Tentoglou is one other European champion in motion and the Greek lengthy jumper might be up in opposition to Italy’s Mattia Furlani and Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer this week.
Hosts Poland have two of their particular person European champions from Munich final 12 months in motion within the form of dash hurdler Pia Skrzyszowska and hammer thrower Wojciech Nowicki.
Pia Skrzyszowska (Getty)
Germany is historically robust within the throws and has gained the general title 5 instances since 2009. Their squad contains, for instance, javelin thrower Julian Weber.
Yeman Crippa might be searching for most factors for Italy and is prone to go within the 5000m.
There are some huge names within the decrease divisions too with excessive jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh and lengthy/triple jumper Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk within the Ukraine crew in division two.
Triple jumper Pedro Pichardo, the Olympic, world and European gold medallist, is a part of the Portuguese squad.
Pedro Pablo Pichardo (Getty)
Because the occasion remodeled from the European Cup to the European Group Championships, British Athletics has used the assembly as extra of a possibility to blood up and coming expertise. The 2023 squad has 11 athletes making their GB & Northern Eire worldwide senior debut, for instance.
As compared, defending champions Poland have named a full-strength crew. Nonetheless there are some skilled campaigners within the GB crew resembling throwers Scott Lincoln, Jade Lally and Lawrence Okoye, plus sprinter Richard Kilty within the relay squad.
Lawrence Okoye (Getty)
Nice Britain & Northern Eire squad
Males: 100m: Jeremiah Azu; 200m: Adam Clayton; 400m: Alex Haydock-Wilson; 800m: Ben Pattison; 1500m: George Mills; 5000m: Jonathan Davies; 110m hurdles: Josh Zeller; 400m Hurdles: Seamus Derbyshire; 3000m steeplechase: Zak Seddon; Lengthy bounce: Jack Roach; Triple bounce: Jude Shiny-Davies; Excessive bounce: William Grimsey; Pole vault: Adam Hague; Shot: Scott Lincoln; Discus: Lawrence Okoye; Hammer: Jake Norris; Javelin: Joe Dunderdale; 4x100m: Jeremiah Azu, Oliver Bromby, Adam Clayton, Richard Kilty and Tommy Ramdhan
Girls: 100/200m: Bianca Williams; 400m: Ama Pipi; 800m: Issy Boffey; 1500m: Ellie Baker; 5000m: Hannah Nuttall; 100m hurdles: Abigail Pawlett; 400m hurdles: Lina Nielsen; 3000m steeplechase: Maisie Grice; Lengthy bounce: Lucy Hadaway; Triple bounce: Georgina Forde-Wells; Excessive bounce: Laura Zialor; Pole vault: Jade Ive; Shot: Sarah Omoregie; Discus: Jade Lally; Hammer: Charlotte Payne; Javelin: Bekah Walton; 4x100m: Alyson Bell, Amy Hunt, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Cassie-Ann Pemberton, Aleeya Sibbons and Bianca Williams
Combined 4x400m: Charlie Dobson, Alex Haydock-Wilson, Carys McAulay (Nick Dakin, Trafford), Laviai Nielsen, Lina Nielsen, Ama Pipi and Brodie Younger
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