Helsinki in final race to host 2030 European Athletics Championships

Helsinki is among three final candidates to host the 2030 European Athletics Championships, with an evaluation committee set to inspect the city’s venues—including the renovated Olympic Stadium—in June, Yle reports.

The Finnish capital is competing against Brussels and Zurich for the right to stage the event, with a final decision expected in March 2025. The European Athletics (EA) delegation will assess Helsinki’s bid immediately after Midsummer, reviewing the Olympic Stadium, Eläintarha Sports Park, and the proposed training facilities in Espoo’s Leppävaara district.

Riikka Pakarinen, chair of the Finnish Athletics Federation (SUL), acknowledged that Finland cannot match the central location or financial resources of its rivals. Instead, she highlighted the country’s strengths: “Our advantages are the renovated Olympic Stadium, short distances, expertise in event and TV production, and a compact event area in the city centre.”

The evaluation committee will meet with SUL leadership, Helsinki city officials, and national decision-makers during their visit. They will also inspect Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and hotels earmarked for teams and visitors.

If selected, the championships would be Finland’s largest sporting event in 20 years, with an estimated economic impact of up to €100 million, according to project director Harri Halme. The decision was postponed from an earlier date due to overlapping bid processes and unresolved TV rights negotiations.