European championship opened! Athletic cream in Belgrade! (PHOTO)

The opening ceremony of the European Indoor Championships in Athletics in the "Kombank Arena" marked the beginning of Europe's largest festival of athletics.

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The continental championship is held for the 34th time, and the first competitions began this morning.

This championship is the single largest competition ever held in Serbia, and technology has been extremely challenging for the organization.

800 athletes, 2.5000 people accompanying them, 650 accredited media, 450 volunteers and 300 in security came to Belgrade. 

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will receive representatives of the World and European Athletic Federation on Saturday.

The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the European Athletics Federation Svein Arne Hansen, president of the Athletics Federation of Serbia Veselin Jevrosimovic, as well as the director of the Athletics Federation of Serbia Slobodan Brankovic.

Foto: Marko Todorović

The opening began with playing the anthems of European Athletics, and then the Serbian anthem "Boze pravde".

The audience was addressed by the President of the Athletic Federation Veselin Jevrosimovic.

- Ladies and gentlemen, I have the great pleasure and honor to address you on the occasion of the opening of the European Championship. I want to greet our athletes who have set Serbia on the world map with their results.

Foto: Marko Todorović

- Athletics requires physical strength, athletic federation has invested maximum efforts to create conditions for our athletes. AFS for the past seven years, has opened 10 stadiums and two halls. After this championship another hall will be opened in Cuprija.

- Our athletes have returned the favor with 68 medals from European, world, Olympic and Balkan championships - said Jevrosimovic.

The first man of European Athletics Svein Arne Hansen noted that he is glad that this Championship is held in Belgrade.

- Serbia has great athletes, and in the past and now. Slobodan Brankovic and Dragutin Topic are among them. European Athletics is grateful to the Athletic Federation of Serbia, City of Belgrade and all the volunteers involved in the organization. I wish everyone good luck and to make this a great championship. I announce the European Indoor Championship have been officially opened - said Svein Arne Hansen.

Foto: Marko Todorović

(Telegraf.co.uk)