Berck-sur-Mer to host 2018 powerlifting Euros
28.07.2016
The competition will welcome 250 athletes from 40 countries between 25-30 May.
IPC Powerlifting has announced that Berck-sur-Mer, France, will host the 2018 European Open Para Powerlifting Championships between 25-30 May.
Around 250 athletes from 40 countries are expected to compete in northern France in one of the most high-level competitions on the calendar.
Ryan Montgomery, IPC Summer Sports Director, said: “We are delighted to be holding another major Para sport competition in France, following on from other highly successful Championships such as the World Para Athletics Championships in Lyon in 2013.
“With the Para Powerlifting Open Europeans taking place at the halfway point between the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, we expect to see athletes beginning to build towards their next major challenge.
“I am confident that the quality of the competition, combined with the capabilities of the Local Organising Committee, will lead to this being a hugely successful event.”
Gérard Masson, President of the Fédération Française Handisport, said: "It's a real pride for us, France is really proud to host this event. I am happy, with our team in Nord-Pas-de-Calais and in collaboration with IPC Powerlifting, to start this great project.
“We successfully organised the 2013 athletics World Championships in Lyon and we will give as much passion and energy to succeed at this European Championships.
“Offering the best conditions for all athletes will be our priority so that they can take away wonderful memories! But before that I wish great success to powerlifting athletes, and all participating athletes, for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. See you in 2018!”
Berck-sur-Mer 2018 will be the third European Open Para Powerlifting Championships since 2013, when the competition returned to the calendar in Alexin, Russia, after a six year hiatus.
The last edition was held in Eger, Hungary in 2015, and featured more than 200 athletes from 41 countries. Four world and six European records were broken as athletes took one of the final chances to improve their place in the Paralympic rankings for Rio 2016.
Mexico City was recently announced as the host of the 2017 World Para Powerlifting Championships, alongside the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships which will be held at the same time between 30 September – 7 October.