2023 European Athletics Indoor Championships | |
---|---|
Organisers | EAA |
Edition | 37th[1] |
Dates | 2–5 March |
Host city | Istanbul, Turkey |
Venue | Ataköy Arena |
Level | Senior |
Type | Indoor |
Events | 26 |
Participation | 550 athletes from 47 nations |
Official website | EAA LOC |
The 2023 European Athletics Indoor Championships was held from 2 to 5 March 2023 at the Ataköy Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, the first time the event took place in this country although the venue did stage the 2012 World Indoor Championships for which this 7000-seater was specifically built. The four-day competition was held during the centenary year of the Republic of Turkey, and featured 13 men's and 13 women's athletics events over three morning and four afternoon sessions.[2][3]
On 11 November 2020, the European Athletic Association (EAA) chose Istanbul at its 160th Council Meeting held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] The city was the only candidate that applied for the organization of this championships.[5]
In a statement issued on 21 February 2023, European Athletics announced that the championships would take place as planned despite the Turkey–Syria earthquake, which struck southern and central Turkey on 6 February and affected 16 percent of country's population with more than 45,900 deaths, albeit with limitations on usual celebratory side-events and activities as well as no local promotion.[6] Turkish Athletic Federation announced that all proceeds from ticket sales in the championship would be donated to the victims of the earthquake.[7]
While 550 athletes from 47 European Athletics Member Federations competed in Ataköy Arena, it was the first time ever at a major European athletics championship that the number of female athletes competing (278) exceeded the number of male athletes (274).[8] Norway topped the medal table for the first time in European Athletics Indoor Championships history with four gold and one silver medal. The Netherlands and Great Britain and Northern Ireland earned three gold medals each, while Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland and Finland secured two gold medals respectively. In the placing table, Italy came first with 84 points, while Norway placed ninth with 45 points.