Nelson Évora in Leiria (© Marcelino Almeida)
The Portuguese city of Leiria has been chosen to host the first ever SPAR European Team Championships in 2009.
The Estadio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa stadium in Leiria, which previously hosted the second divisions of the European Cup in 2005 & 2008 was fully renovated for the EURO 2004 UEFA Nations Championships.
However, at the time, and subsequently true to their word, the city authorities wanted to leave a legacy for both football and athletics and they have now being rewarded with the Super League in the first edition of the new SPAR European Team Championships.
The venues for the other leagues will be announced in October.
The divisions for the 2009 European Team Championships, which will take place on the weekend of June 20-21, 2009, are as follows:
Super League:
Russia, Great Britain, Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Ukraine, Greece, Sweden, Czech Republic, Portugal
First League:
Belarus, Slovenia, Romania, Turkey, Belgium, Hungary, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Switzerland, Serbia, Norway
Second League:
Ireland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Austria, Cyprus
Third League:
Moldova, Israel, Denmark, Bosnia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Armenia, AASSE, Albania, Andorra, Macedonia
Major Athletics events hosted in Portugal:
European Cups - Various leagues
1983 Lisbon (POR)
1987 Maia (POR)
1991 Viseu (POR)
1996 Lisbon (POR)
2005 Leiria (POR)
2008 Leiria (POR)
SPAR European Cross Country Championships
1997 Oeiras (POR)
IAAF World Junior Championships
1994 Lisbon (POR)
IAAF World Indoor Championships
2001 Lisbon (POR)
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2000 Vilamoura (POR)
IAAF World Road Race Championships
2003 Vilamoura (POR)