SPAR’s 20 years of European Athletics

SPAR marks 20 years as principal sponsor of European Athletics and fantastic first day of 2016 Championships

Iconic Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam comes alive for world-class event from 6 – 10 July

As the principal sponsor of European Athletics since 1996, SPAR International continues to build on its values of community and promoting health and well-being. SPAR’s drive and entrepreneurial spirt is echoed in the hard work and dedication shown by the athletes from 50 countries around Europe which SPAR supports through its sponsorship of the 2016 European Athletics Championships, the seventh Championships in which it is principal sponsor.

The 23^rd European Athletics Championships were officially opened on Tuesday evening, 5th July, by his Royal Highness King Willem-Alexander and Svein Arne Hansen, the President of European Athletics, at the famous Museum square in Amsterdam.

This year’s European Athletics Championships sees almost 1,500 athletes come together to compete for the title of European Champion in their discipline, across track and field. At this prestigious and internationally renowned competition, athletes will challenge themselves and each other in the hope of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio later this summer.

In addition to the 900 hours of television coverage anticipated, which will be seen by over 350 million viewers, athletics fans the world over can access the free, livestream platform for the event sponsored by SPAR.  Viewers in over 40 countries can watch the exciting races and competitions live on their computer, mobile or tablet at www.european-athletics.org.

Managing Director at SPAR International Tobias Wasmuht said “SPAR is delighted to celebrate 20 years as principal sponsor of European Athletics at this, our seventh championship. Our long standing international sponsorship is also amplified by our multiple involvement at national and local levels with SPAR taking an active role in promoting health and wellness in the communities we serve.”

SPAR International is keen to support not only professional athletes but people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport. Fans attending the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam will be able to visit the SPARK Kids Athletics Park where coaching and supervision will be provided through the Female Coaching Network (FCN). SPAR is delighted to be supporting future generations of athletes by providing coaching clinics with FCN to encourage young athletes and provide guidance for their parents.

Complementing the SPARK Kids Athletics Park is the SPAR Nutrition Zone – an area dedicated to promoting and encouraging healthy eating. Digital games about nutrition are available to download from the website www.sparnutritionzone.com

SPAR Netherlands recognises the possibilities that the European Athletics Championships being hosted in their country brings. It is proud to support the Johan Cruyff Foundation which encourages children of all abilities to take part in sport. A SPAR pop-up store in the Fan Zone will offer a range of SPAR Own Brand products with €1 of every product sold being donated to the Johan Cruyff Foundation.

SPAR is the world’s largest food retail voluntary organisation, established on the basis of wholesalers and retailers working in partnership to the benefit of all. More than 80 years after the founding of SPAR, it now has a presence in 42 countries on four continents and operates over 12,176 supermarkets. Further details about the countries in which SPAR is located and the way in which it operates can be found on SPAR website (www.spar-international.com) and in the 2015 Annual Report (available here).