Welcome Message from the President of
European Athletics

I am very pleased to welcome everyone to Bergen and the 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships.

Norway has a very important place in the history of athletics and especially European Athletics. Consequently, it is always a pleasure and an honour to return here for one of our events.

This country was one of just 17 founder members of World Athletics back in 1912 and is one of only six European Athletics Member Federations to have provided a President of our organisation since its foundation in 1970, that person being my much-loved predecessor Svein Arne Hanson who was also a close friend.

Your capital Oslo held a famous and historically important European Athletics Championships in 1946 as the shadows of World War II started to recede and the Oslo Diamond League meeting is to this day one of the world’s great one-day meetings.

Bergen itself has its own place in European Athletics history and, after a hiatus of 15 years, we are returning to this historic and picturesque city that hosted the 2010 European Team Championships.

In recent years, Norwegian athletics has risen to new heights which I am sure will be reflected at these championships with more successes after their four gold medals at the last edition.

The Norwegian athletes who compete in Bergen will certainly be inspired by Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Karsten Warholm and Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal, who all won gold medals at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.

This trio have climbed to the top of the podium at many major championships and have been role models on and off the track not just Norwegian athletics but for our sport across Europe and beyond.

This is also the 15th edition of the European Athletics U23 Championships and many of the European medallists from the Olympic Games Paris 2024 competed at these championships in the past.

The European Athletics U23 Championships themselves were inaugurated in 1997 as a way of providing high-level international competition for this age-group which would then be stepping stone between our U20 championships and the senior stage.

As seen from the results in Rome and Paris, these championships continue to fulfil that important objective, and I feel confident that these championships will be remembered for years to come not just for its superb organisation but also for the athletes who competed here.

To conclude, I would also like to offer a big thank you on behalf of European Athletics to the Norway athletics federation – Norsk Friidrett – the Bergen 2025 Local Organising Committee, the public authorities in the city and municipality of Bergen, as well as all the other host institutions, partners, officials and volunteers.

Dobromir Karamarinov

European Athletics President

Welcome Message from LOC President Pål Hafstad Thorsen

It is a pleasure to welcome Europe to Norway and the athletics city of Bergen!

Bergen, the city between the seven mountains, offers a unique setting for hosting the European U23 Athletics Championships here in Western Norway, with its proximity to the sea and nature. Bergen is the driving force in a region committed to promoting grassroots sports, developing talents, and facilitating elite sports.

The European U23 Athletics Championships is one of the largest sporting events in the city’s history. We are now welcoming the future stars of athletics. Many years of hard work and significant effort have gone into the application, planning, and execution of the championship. We are therefore pleased to have the Norwegian Athletics Federation and the Municipality of Bergen as organizers, the County of Vestland as a partner, and generous sponsors supporting the event.

Bergen is a proud sports city with over 100,000 sports memberships, where athletics, in particular, has strong and rich traditions. Volunteerism is the backbone of the athletics movement, which, through dedicated enthusiasts, coaches, and leaders, creates a rich offering for the athletes. Altogether, this has laid the foundation for Bergen to now be equipped to host the European U23 Athletics Championships.

Bergen is a city with strong local pride, but with generous and inclusive inhabitants who have always been outward-looking and open to the world. In a time of global unrest and external forces attempting to create division in Europe, it is more important than ever to unite nations in the joy of sports and come together around peaceful messages.ne til felles idrettsglede og forenes om fredelige budskap.

As president of the local organizing committee, our goal as organizers is to facilitate the realization of the athletes’ dreams of achieving great sporting performances at Fana Stadium, and for nations and spectators to experience a championship of the highest quality here in Bergen.

I would like to thank the European Athletics for the trust they have placed in us by awarding the European U23 Athletics Championships to Bergen. It is an honor, and we will seize the opportunity and meet expectations with the aim of bringing more major championships to our city in the future.

Pål Hafstad Thorsen

LOC President

Welcome Message from the President of the Norwegian Athletics Federation Runar Bålsrud

Dear athletes, coaches, officials, and friends from all across Europe,

On behalf of the Norwegian Athletic Federation, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you all to Norway—and to the vibrant athletics city of Bergen!

Nestled between seven majestic mountains and the open sea, Bergen offers a truly unique setting for this year’s European U23 Athletics Championships. Here in Western Norway, nature is never far away, and neither is the passion for sport. Bergen stands as a beacon for grassroots development, talent nurturing, and elite performance—not just in Norway, but in all of Europe.

Today, we open our arms to the future stars of European athletics. Behind this event is a long time of dedicated effort, collaboration, and meticulous planning. We are deeply grateful for the partnership between the Norwegian Athletic Federation, European Athletics, the Municipality of Bergen, Vestland County, and our generous sponsors—all of whom have made this event possible. A special thanks to all the volunteers.

Bergen’s sporting spirit runs deep and has a proud tradition in athletics. Our communities in Norway thrive on volunteerism; and this is a very strong “power” in Bergen.

While Bergen is known for its strong local pride, it is also a city defined by its openness and hospitality. In times when the world faces challenges, sport has the unique power to unite us. Here, we celebrate not only competition, but also friendship, respect, and peace.

As President of the Norwegian Athletic Federation, I assure you that our goal is to provide the very best conditions for you—the athletes—to realize your dreams and achieve your best performances at Fana Stadium. We want every nation, every supporter, and every participant to experience a championship of the highest quality. We are committed to making this event a resounding success.

Let us celebrate the spirit of athletics together.

Friends of Athletics, welcome to Bergen and best of luck to all competitors!

Runar Bålsrud

Norwegian Athletics Federation President