Bydgoszcz to host 2020 European Championships

“Poland is now a true European leader in Para athletics and we are determined to stage an event that showcases our passion for Para sport, attracts new audiences and hopefully inspires many people with disabilities in our country to take up sport.”

Bydgoszcz in Poland has today been announced as the host city for the 2020 World Para Athletics European Championships.

The competition will take place from 3 to 7 June at the city’s Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak stadium, three months before the start of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The venue, which has previously hosted a number of major international athletics events including the 2017 European Athletics U23 Championships and the 2016 IAAF World Junior Championships, joined the World Para Athletics Grand Prix circuit this year as the location for the penultimate Grand Prix of the season in July.

Lukasz Szeliga, President of the Polish Paralympic Committee, said:

“This is fantastic news for both athletics and the Polish Para sport movement. I’m delighted and thrilled that Poland will host the World Para Athletics European Championships for the first time in history.

“We are honoured to be trusted with such a prestigious event within the world of Para sport and are looking forward to welcoming Europe to Bydgoszcz - also known as Polish Venice.

“Whilst there is a lot to do between now and June 2020, I have no doubt that everybody involved will work tirelessly to put on a great show for athletes and fans alike.

“Poland is now a true European leader in Para athletics and we are determined to stage an event that showcases our passion for Para sport, attracts new audiences and hopefully inspires many people with disabilities in our country to take up sport.”

Poland's success

Bydgoszcz 2020 will be the seventh edition of the World Para Athletics European Championships, which first took place in Assen, Netherlands, back in 2003.

The last European Championships took place in Berlin, Germany in 2018 and saw around 600 athletes compete in 182 medal events.

Poland topped the medals table, claiming 26 golds and a total of 61 medals, with top performers Michal Derus (T47), Krzysztof Ciuksza (T36), Michal Kotkowski (T37), Maciej Sochal (F32), Barbara Niewiedzial (T20) and Joanna Mazur (T11) among Poland’s multiple medallists.

Haozhe Gao, Head of World Para Athletics, said:

“We are delighted that Poland will host next year’s European Championships. Berlin 2018 set the bar high but we have every confidence that next year’s Championships will be bigger, better and more innovative than ever before.

“World Para Athletics were impressed by the proposals laid out by the Local Organising Committee and we look forward to working closely with the team over the next year.”