“The decision is both a magnificent conclusion to our three-year bidding effort and the start of an operative process that will culminate in an unforgettable event for both athletes and the public at Helsinki Olympic Stadium,” said Riikka Pakarinen, President of the Finnish Athletics Federation (SUL).
“A big thank you to the City of Helsinki, the Finnish government and the dozens of other partners and supporters of the project. I hope our success will encourage other Finnish sports to bid to host major international events in Finland.”
This will be the fourth time that Helsinki has hosted the European Athletics Championships, with previous competitions held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in 1971, 1994 and 2012.
"We have a world-class stadium, an established infrastructure, a strong athletics tradition and we are currently seeing a surge in public interest. Finnish athletics are on the upswing, so all the conditions are in place for a successful European Championship,” Pakarinen added.
“It’s absolutely wonderful that the European Athletics Championships are returning to Helsinki in 2030. It is one of Europe’s largest sporting events, and securing the event for Helsinki is a testament to our strong expertise and our standing as an international host city for events. We wish Europe’s premier athletes and all spectators a very warm welcome to Helsinki,” said Mayor Daniel Sazonov.
"Helsinki is a cool city, as our northern climate offers athletes an excellent setting for top-level performances. But Helsinki is also a cool city to visit. Its easy walkability, excellent public transport and general safety make Helsinki the perfect competition host city - for both athletes and international visitors alike,” said Paavo Arhinmäki, Deputy Mayor of Helsinki.
For Helsinki, the European Athletics Championships represent an exceptionally important international event. The competition will bring tens of thousands of visitors to the city and reach millions of viewers through television broadcasts, which will boost Helsinki’s international profile and vitality.
“We have a world-class Olympic Stadium, excellent facilities and outstanding event partners with whom we will work to make the Championships an unforgettable experience for both its participants and the people of Helsinki,” said Sanna Forsström, Head of the City of Helsinki’s Brand and Events.
A modern stadium, compact concept and realistic financial model
Finland and Helsinki’s bid to host the European Athletics Championships was given the go-ahead at the EA Council’s Executive Board meeting in Lausanne. Before reaching its decision, the EA Council heard presentations from the cities of Helsinki and Brussels, which had both reached the final stage of the bidding process.
Helsinki’s bid for the European Championships was presented in Lausanne by Finland’s Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Mika Poutala, Helsinki Deputy Mayor Paavo Arhinmäki, SUL President Riikka Pakarinen, SUL General Secretary Harri Aalto and Project Director Harri Halme.
"Securing the Championships for Finland is a fantastic victory for Finnish sports. Over the years, we have demonstrated our ability to organize high-quality and safe sporting events for athletes, spectators and international sports federations alike. I'm sure the competition will be a memorable experience for Finnish athletes and sports fans everywhere,” said Mika Poutala, Finland's Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity.
“Key factors behind Helsinki’s successful bid were the modernised Olympic Stadium and a city-centre-oriented competition concept that minimised the need for shuttle buses traffic – making it both compact and environmentally friendly,” said Harri Aalto, SUL’s General Secretary.
“It certainly worked in Helsinki’s favour that we were able to host the competitions without the need for major new investment. We also have a realistic financial model and strong public support, in addition to Finland’s reputation as a safe and reliable host for major events,” he continued.
Ticket sales in Finland to begin in 2027
Practical preparations for the European Championships will begin immediately, based on plans prepared in advance.
“The European Athletics Championships will take place in August 2030, but the exact dates will be confirmed over the winter in collaboration with EA, broadcasters and other key stakeholders,” said Harri Halme, Project Director for the European Championships bid.
The European Athletics Championships span one week, with seven evening sessions and five morning sessions. Public events associated with the competition will take place over a two-week period.
“Ticket sales will begin in Finland as early as 2027. Priority will be given to the domestic audience and Finland’s 500 athletic clubs. International ticket sales can begin in June 2028, following the European Athletics Championships in Poland,” said Aalto.
Background information:
- The 2030 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki will be the largest international sport and fitness event to be held in Finland in 25 years.
- It is estimated that some 2,000 athletes and team members representing 51 countries, as well as 2,000 media representatives and spectators and visitors from every European nation, will arrive in Finland during the event.
- A preliminary study from Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture (2024) indicated the economic impact for Helsinki will be roughly EUR 64 million. Local resident spending is estimated at a further EUR 21.9 million. The combined economic impact for Helsinki and Finland would therefore be EUR 85.9 million.
- Some 2,000 hours of media coverage from Finland will be broadcast around the world during the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki. Both previous European Championships – in Rome in 2024 and Birmingham in 2026 – reached an audience of 450 million. Live broadcasts were available on free-to-air channels in 40 European countries, with various distribution channels broadcasting the event to 200 countries worldwide.