Cyprus team to compete in the 5th U18 European Athletics Championships

The 5th European U18 Athletics Championships will take place in Rieti, Italy, from July 16 to July 19, 2026. The event will host more than 1,100 young athletes from across Europe. A delegation of 11 Cypriot athletes is scheduled to depart for Italy on July 14, aiming for top placements. The U18 European Championship was established by the European Athletics Association in 2013 to foster competition among athletes aged 16 and 17. The inaugural event was held in 2016 in Tbilisi, Georgia. To manage participation numbers, the European Athletics Association limits national delegations to a maximum of two athletes per event. Qualification criteria are based on specific performance standards to ensure international competitiveness. This competition joins the existing U20 and U23 European championships in the European athletics calendar.