Clock Counts Down to First Combined European Championships

(ATR) A concert in Glasgow marks one month to go until the inaugural European Championships.

The Velophonic Orchestra, which is known for replacing traditional instruments with bike parts – making music from bells and saddles to frames and spokes – celebrated each of the four cycling disciplines being showcased at the European Championships.

The European Championships for track cycling, road race, BMX and mountain biking will be held in the same city simultaneously for the first time ever in August.

A total of 52 nations will take part in seven sports at the Glasgow/Berlin 2018 European Championships – the biggest multisports event in the U.K. since the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"It’s great to celebrate ‘one month to go’ until Glasgow 2018 – the moment is getting nearer! The buzz in Glasgow during the 2014 Commonwealth Games was outstanding and Glasgow 2018 looks set to be just as amazing. I can’t wait!," said Team Scotland Commonwealth Games silver medalist in cycling John Archibald.

Six sports – aquatics, cycling, golf, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon – at 12 venues across Scotland are on the schedule of the European Championships in Glasgow from 2-12 August. Also part of the multisports event are the European Athletics Championships, which are running from 7-12 August in Berlin.

More than 3,000 athletes will travel to Scotland as part of a total delegation of around 8,500 including officials and media. Another 1,500 athletes will compete at Berlin 2018 – athletics will be held at the Olympic Stadium, with road races and race walking events held throughout the city.

"There is something on offer for everyone at Glasgow 2018, with elite sporting action and a unique cultural program, and we want to see as many people as possible get out to enjoy the events whether that’s in George Square, Go Live at the Green or the sports venues," said Scotland’s culture secretary Fiona Hyslop.

Organizers of the championships are touting the European Championships as "a new era in world sport", bringing the sports together to "elevate the status of European champions".

They say the championships have a potential European television audience of up to 1.03 billion under the arrangement with the European Broadcast Union and their free-to-air members, including the BBC. The EBU includes 73 members in 56 countries that operate over 781 TV and 1049 radio services.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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