The SPAR European Cross Country Championships that will take place in Dublin in December were formally launched at the Sport Ireland Campus this afternoon.
They will take place on the purpose-built cross country course at the Campus on Sunday, 12th December 2021, one year after they were originally scheduled to take place.
The 2021 Championship will mark the second occasion that the event has taken place in Dublin, with the 2009 SPAR European Cross Country Championships taking place in Santry.
Ireland has enjoyed a rich history of success at the Championships from Catherina McKiernan’s gold-winning performance at the inaugural staging to the most recent medal haul in Lisbon (2019) which saw Efrem Gidey and Stephanie Cotter won individual bronze medals in the U20 men and U23 women’s races respectively.
Cotter also led the U23 women to team silver whilst Fionnuala McCormack guided the senior women’s team to another superb silver to record one of Ireland’s most successful Championships to date.
Tickets for the Championships will be available through the Championship website at www.fingal-dublin2021.ie on Monday, 1st November 2021.
The advance ticket price is €8 with children under the age of 16 going free. Tickets will also be available to purchase on the day for €10.
RTÉ is set to broadcast all seven races live.
“We’ve had the honour of hosting the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in 2009 and the legacy left by the event is highlighted by the numerous individual and team medals won at the Championships in subsequent years,” said Local Organising Group Chair Liam Hennessy.
“Hosting this year’s Championships will be another huge honour and we look forward to welcoming the best cross country runners from across European to Fingal, Dublin later this year as they will battle it out to be crowned the European Champion.”
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin attended the launch and commented; “It is great to see our athletes return to competition and to welcome international competitors once again. The Sport Ireland Campus is the home of Irish sport and has the potential to attract major sporting events in the future. We are proud to see it in use again on the European stage.”
She was joined by Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers who added “It has been a difficult time for athletes and event organisers but we are delighted to see the SPAR European Cross Country Championships back on the sporting calendar for 2021. It will be a great spectacle to see, and I wish all of the athletes, particularly the Irish athletes all the best for a great competition”.
“I am looking forward to welcoming the European Cross Country Champions to the Sport Ireland Campus on December 12th,” said Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy.
“The cross country track here on the Campus is world-class. We are proud to have athletes from all over Europe visit and see the level of facilities that are available in Ireland. There is always a great buzz around the Cross Country Championships and I look forward to welcoming athletes, coaches and spectators to cheer on the athletes this December.”
The SPAR European Cross Country Championships Fingal-Dublin 2021 is proudly supported nationally by Sport Ireland, Fingal Country Council, Athletics Ireland, SPAR Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, RTÉ, Joma Sport, KIA, Clayton Hotels, Irish Runner Magazine, DCU and nTrai.
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