Good bye European Mountain Running Championships in Sapareva Banya - 4 July 2010!

First time ever!
The whole Championship was broadcasted in Internet LIVE by sportmedia.tv

Bulgaria will host the European Mountain Running Championships for the first time ever in the beautiful resort of Sapareva Banya on the 4th of July.

The country may not have the big names to show off in mountain running but audience support is something that has the capacity to inspire athletes to rewrite record books. The enthusiasm amongst the people in Bulgaria for mountain running is infectious, and I am sure that it will be on full display when more than 600 athletes and officials from all over Europe converge on Sapareva Banya.

The newest championship in the European Athletics event programme, the European Mountain Running Championships has been a keenly contested annual championships since its introduction in 2002 in Madeira, Portugal. This ninth edition follows on from last year’s meet in the spectacular Austrian village of Telfes im Stubai

Last year, Italy registered a unique double in taking both the men’s and women’s team titles while Ahmet Arslan of Turkey completed a hat-trick of individual title wins with another commanding performance. Switzerland’s Martina Strahl won the individual gold in the women’s category.

Despite such a pure and healthy Bulgarian setting, it is sure to be a challenge for the athletes, who will have to use all their skill, stamina and tactical thinking to conquer the rugged terrain. We extend our sincere thanks to the Bulgarian Athletic Federation and the local organising committee in Sapareva Banya for their hard work in planning and preparing for what we are confident will be a hugely successful event.

We wish all the athletes and competing teams every success in their races at this edition of the European Mountain Running Championships.

TO THE ORGANIZERS AND THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE 9th EUROPEAN MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SAPAREVA BANYA

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 9th European mountain running championships, which will take place in the beautiful resort Sapareva Banya.

I am extremely honored that Bulgaria was granted hosting this prestigious competition, which is an explicit recognition for the work of Bulgarian Athletic Federation.

I expect the biggest achievement for Bulgaria, besides the good results of our athletes, to be the growing popularity of the mountain running among the young people.

I wish to all teams worthy performance and unforgettable moments in our country.

Good luck!

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear participants in the 9th European Mountain Running Championships, Sapareva Banya 2010,

I am delighted by the fact that Sapareva Banya – a small city located in foothill of the majestic Rila Mountain coupled with the hottest mineral water in Continental Europe of the Geyser Jet 103°C – was granted the honor to be the venue of this prestigious sport event. The city of Sapareva Banya - an ever growing sporting centre – by hosting this event has opened a new promising page for the future of mountain running in Bulgaria and worldwide athletics.

The Municipality of Sapareva Banya has organized and staged mountain running races for nearly 20 years, National Championships and the First Balkan Mountain Running Championships in 2008 among them.

Sport is connecting and uniting people from all over the world; let’s use it for creating a better place to live in. I cordially greet you with a warm Welcome to the beautiful Rila Mountain. I believe that each and every one of you – athletes, coaches, officials, guests, tourists and locals, everybody who will join us on 4 July 2010 will keep good memories and will take away in their hearts a small part of Sapareva Banya, pulsating in the hot whirlpool of today and tomorrow.

I wish success to all those who are going to struggle on the course. May the best win the race!

Wishing you all the best,

Dear Friends of Mountain Running,

Bulgarian Athletic Federation is proud for being entrusted with the organization of the European Mountain Running Championships Sapareva Banya 2010. In the last few years we have done a lot to promote Mountain running in Eastern Europe. We introduced the discipline in our area and integrated it in the Balkan Calendar. We hosted the First Balkan Mountain Running Championships 2008 in Sapareva Banya - a great start that brought the European event in the very same venue two years later.

I am excited and happy to welcome the best athletes of Europe in our beautiful country. We always take good care when hosting European Athletics events and are doing our best for an excellent organization. I am sure teams will appreciate the values of the carefully designed course and the athletes will give nothing less than their best in the struggle.

Good luck to all participants!