Barcelona, track and field capital for seven days

Barcelona (CNA).- More than 1,500 athletes coming from 50 different countries are participating in the 20th edition of the Championship. Hotels in the Catalan capital are fully lodging the competitors as well as the 3,200 volunteers and 600 journalists that are attending the 7-day event.

It is the 1st time ever that the European Athletics Championship has taken place in a Spanish city: Barcelona. Though this edition has another particularity. It is the last time that there will be a 4-year gap between Championships. From now on, the gap will be of 2 years.

The Montjuic Magic Fountain, directed by Hansel Cereza, was the main protagonist of the opening ceremony in which 350 artists participated. Thousands of people came to see this mixture of dance and sport, all decorated by the music of Nacho Cano.

During these 7 days, until the 1st of August, male athletes will compete in 24 different disciplines and female athletes in 23.

Many Catalans in the Spanish delegation

Marta Domínguez and Natàlia Rodríguez are the outstanding figures of the Spanish delegation that consists of many Catalans. They will have to face other great athletes such as the Turkish Elvan Abeylegesse.

This year the Spanish goal is to reach 15 medals, most of all in the competitions of mid and long distance running.