Poland will host the European Athletics Championships for the first time in history in 2028, with the event set to take place at the Silesian Stadium in the southern city of Chorzów, the continent’s governing body, European Athletics, announced on Friday.
The Silesian Stadium in Chorzów, southern Poland.PAP/Andrzej Grygiel
The decision was made at a European Athletics Council meeting in the British city of Birmingham, where Belgrade had also been in contention to stage the event.
According to the international athletics calendar, the championships will be held from June 3 to 8, 2028—earlier than usual in the season due to the Olympic year, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Sebastian Chmara, head of the Polish Athletic Association (PZLA), described the decision as „historic,” noting that Poland has never before hosted Europe’s premier outdoor athletics event.
„We are launching a unique project that will be a flagship for Polish athletics in the coming years,” Chmara said, adding that organizers aim to deliver both sporting and organizational success in cooperation with regional authorities and the sports ministry.
The Silesian Stadium, owned by the regional government, has served as Poland’s National Athletics Stadium since 2021 and has hosted a range of major events, including the World Athletics Relays, the European Team Championships and competitions during the 2023 European Games.
It is also a regular venue for the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Meet, part of the Diamond League series.
Regional leader Wojciech Saługa said hosting the championships would be the biggest sporting event in Poland since the UEFA Euro 2012 football tournament, adding that the country has built a strong reputation for organizing top-level athletics competitions.
The event had long been expected to be awarded to Chorzów, but the process was delayed in recent months due to rising costs linked to inflation and the need for additional government guarantees, allowing Belgrade to submit a competing bid.
The European Athletics Championships have been held since 1934. Originally staged every four years, they have taken place biennially since 2010. The 2028 event will be held shortly before the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Sports Minister Jakub Rutnicki said the championships would showcase Poland’s organizational capabilities and promote the country internationally.
This year’s European Athletics Championships will be held in Birmingham from August 10 to 16.
Polish athletes have won a total of 186 medals at the championships to date, including 59 gold, 60 silver and 67 bronze.
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Source: PAP
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