Ireland will host the European Team Track and Field Championships First League in June 2013. The last time Ireland hosted a European track and field team event was in 1997, when the competition was known as the European Cup.
The First League is one level below the Super League in a four division structure that allows for promotion and relegation.  The Super League event in 2013 will be held in Gateshead, the first major event in sport to be held in Britain post the Olympic Games.
Ireland will play host to teams from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
“For Ireland to be given the honour of hosting the European team track and field championships is huge for the sport in Ireland,” said Athletics Ireland President Ciaran O’Cathain. “This will not only benefit athletics throughout the country, it will also boost the country as a whole. We now look forward to delivering a world class event in June 2013.”
Liam Hennessy who led the Irish delegation bid said “The hosting of major events like the European Team Championships is the foremost way for us to develop and foster our great sport within the country. We are indebted to European athletics for entrusting us with this great honour. Athletics Ireland is appreciative of the support given by the Irish Sports Council, Fingal County Council, Setanta Sports, Clonliffe Harriers and the National Sports Campus in the hosting of this event.”
The event will take place on the weekend of 22nd and 23rd June at the Morton Stadium in Santry.  The event is one of those in the European Athletics Calendar sponsored at primary level by Spar International.
Dublin’s hosting of the event will assist in picking Irish athletes up after what will be a natural high point of their career at the London 2012 Olympic Games.