Athlete Anticipation Continues as Nike named Official Partner of Berlin 2018

BERLIN – Coming off strong seasons in 2017, middle distance runner Konstanze Klosterhalfen (GER) and sprinter/hurdler Karsten Warholm (NOR) said Friday they are eager to fight for European glory this August at the Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships as the world’s leading athletic footwear and apparel company Nike signed as Official Partner of the event.

The 21-year-old Klosterhalfen won the silver medal at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade last year. Warholm, meanwhile, triumphed at the London 2017 World Championships, winning gold in the 400m hurdles. Both are looking for a return to the podium at Berlin 2018.

"To be taking part in the European Athletics Championships is already a big thrill," said Klosterhalfen. "But to do so on home soil in Berlin and then hopefully do one better than my silver from the indoors last year is an amazing opportunity that I am really looking forward to."

Warholm concurred: "I am really looking forward to running in Berlin. I visited the stadium with my grandfather just a few years ago and it is an incredible place. Back then I was at a level when I could only dream of running on that famous track and now suddenly I have the chance to win gold there in August against the best in Europe. All I can do is run as fast as I can and hope it is good enough to beat my opponents."

With just over 100 days to go until the start of the European Athletics Championships, it was announced Friday that Nike will be Berlin 2018’s Official Partner. As part of its strategy, Nike recently identified the German capital as one of its 12 key cities around the world. The strong connections Nike is building with Berlin enable them to serve the local consumer personally and at scale in going after their sports goals.

All of this makes for a perfect fit for Nike and Europe’s preeminent sports competition.

"We are delighted to be part of the Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships," said Bert Hoyt, VP/GM, Nike EMEA. "Nike’s mission is to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world, and this partnership will allow us to better serve athletes in sports obsessed Berlin and beyond."

European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen said the partnership with Nike underscores not only the importance of the European Athletics Championships but also the broad appeal of the event. "Berlin, the European Championships and Nike are great match for each other," he said. "A world-class sporting event supported by the leading manufacturer of athletic footwear and apparel, in a world-class city – the eyes of Europe and beyond will be on us this August and together we will not fail to deliver."

Berlin 2018 forms part of the first multisport European Championships this August in Berlin and Glasgow – a major new multisport event taking place every four years, supported by Europe’s free-to-air broadcasters, which aggregates the existing senior continental championships of Athletics, Aquatics, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing, Triathlon, with a new Golf Team Championships – all unified under a common brand.

The world-class sporting and cultural cities of Glasgow and Berlin will host the first edition of the Championships from 2-12 August 2018. The vision for the event is to create a must-watch, must-attend experience that elevates the Champions of Europe during an 11-day celebration of sport and packed 10-day broadcast schedule.

For more information, please contact James Mulligan, Head of Communications at European Athletics at james.mulligan@european-athletics.org or by telephone at +41 79 694 48 29.

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