"After 50 years since the last European Championships were held in Rome, we are all very excited. When we asked European Athletics to reschedule the European Athletics Championships, which were originally scheduled for after the Olympics, we considered real European trials. And we were correct, because the best of European athletics is concentrated in Rome". Stefano Mei, the president of Fidal, stated this during the press conference to introduce the 26th edition of the European Athletics Championships Rome 2024. The event will commence with the men's discus throw tomorrow morning and conclude with the men's 4x100 relay on June 12. There will be nine champions from the most recent World Championships in Budapest 2023, as well as thirteen Olympic champions from Tokyo 2020. From pole vaulter Armand "Mondo" Duplantis to women's 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol. From the surprise winner of the 100 meters at Tokyo 2020, Italian Marcell Jacobs, to the Olympic high jump champion Gimbo Tamberi, to the always reliable Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, everyone will be present at this fantastic gala. The Italian delegation to the European Championships will consist of 116 athletes: 63 men and 53 women, a record never achieved in previous editions of the continental event. 48 countries will be represented, with 1700 athletes present in Rome. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring many young people closer to this sport", Mei says.
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