Helsinki will host the 2030 European Athletics Championships, bringing Europe’s leading track and field athletes to the Finnish capital for a week of competition in August. The event will mark the fourth time Helsinki has hosted the continental championships, setting a new record for the city.
The decision was made on Thursday at a meeting of the European Athletics (EA) board in Lausanne, Switzerland. Helsinki was selected ahead of Brussels, the Belgian capital, which was its only remaining rival in the bidding process. Zurich, Switzerland, had also been expected to compete for the hosting rights but later withdrew its bid.
The 2030 championships will run over one week, with a programme featuring seven evening sessions and five morning sessions. As with previous major athletics events in the Finnish capital, the competitions will take place at Helsinki Olympic Stadium, which completed an extensive renovation in 2020.
Riikka Pakarinen, chair of the Finnish Athletics Federation, welcomed the decision, describing it as recognition of three years of work and cooperation among the organisations involved in securing the event.
In a press release, Pakarinen thanked the City of Helsinki, the Finnish government and the many other partners and supporters who helped prepare the bid. She also expressed hope that the decision would encourage other Finnish sports to pursue major international competitions and bring more high-profile events to the country.
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Helsinki previously hosted the European Athletics Championships in 1971, 1994 and 2012. The 2030 edition will therefore be the fourth time the city has staged the biennial competition, extending its record as a host city.
Finland’s capital also has experience hosting athletics at the global level. The World Athletics Championships took place in Helsinki in 1983 and again in 2005, placing the city among the established venues for major international track and field competitions.
European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov expressed confidence in Helsinki’s ability to deliver the 2030 event. In a press release, he highlighted the facilities available at the recently renovated Olympic Stadium and described it as one of the world’s most historic athletics venues.
The award gives Helsinki several years to prepare for the championships, which will bring Europe’s top athletes to the stadium in August 2030. It also provides Finland with another opportunity to showcase its capacity to organise a major international sporting event.
