After an informal Amsterdam 2016 presentation to the media, the 1992 Olympic 800 metres champion said: "It was good to raise awareness for Amsterdam 2016 on the closing day in Zurich.

"Our slogan 'Athletics like never before' of course arouses curiosity, and we notice that our plans are being met with a lot of enthusiasm.

"The idea to hold a number of events elsewhere in the city is a real innovation.

"People are already talking about this in wonder.

"With the Olympic Stadium we already have an iconic venue for the European Championships, but javelin and discus throw at the Museumplein will certainly be a great success."

The Closing Ceremony at the Letzigrund Stadium yesterday included the traditional handover of the Championships from Zurich to Amsterdam.

Vice-Mayor Eric van der Burg of the City of Amsterdam took the baton from the City of Zurich, with additional roles being played by Cooly, the popular mascot at these Championships, and Adam, the mascot of Amsterdam 2016.

Flags are paraded at the closing ceremony of the European Athletics Championships in Zurich, where the baton of responsibility was officially passed onto the organisers of Amsterdam 2016 ©AFP/Getty Images

"I am very pleased with the success of the Zurich 2014 European Athletics Championships," said Hansjörg Wirz, President of European Athletics.

"We have seen some fantastic performances at the Letzigrund Stadium, a venue built for athletics with an eye on one day hosting the European Athletics Championships - and now this famous Stadium's story is complete

"The event has created European champions, inspirational moments and smiling faces.

"The strength of athletics on the continent has been underlined.

"Established stars have reasserted their dominance and a new generation of stars have been created on the European stage.

"Feedback throughout the week from the public, television and media has been very positive.

"Indeed, we have received excellent preliminary television figures across Europe.

"We have also received excellent feedback from our Member Federations."

European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz has claimed the European Championships in Zurich has created "inspirational moments" ©Getty Images

Wirz added: "Outside of the stadium additional values have been created.

"More than 60 young people representing 46 of our Member Federations enjoyed taking part in the European Athletics - UNESCO Young Leaders Forum - a programme designed to develop the next generation of leaders in the sport.

"The success of these Championships gives us great motivation as we look ahead to the Amsterdam 2016 and Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships."

Patrick Magyar, chief executive of Zurich 2014 and organiser of the annual Weltklasse meeting at the Letzigrund Stadium, commented: "We have achieved all important goals we had envisaged when we submitted our bid for the 22nd European Athletics Championships,"

Magyar defended the fact the Stadium failed to sell-out for most sessions. 

"Eighty point seven per cent of seats sold for six evening or afternoon sessions, 148,432 stadium visitors during all ten sessions, some 100,000 spectators at road races, and more than 200,000 visitors at the City Festival show, that we were able to introduce a tremendous amount of people to our sport," he said.

"Of course, we would have loved to have a sold-out stadium.

"Perhaps, our price policy was not ideal, or perhaps, we could not convince sports fans to attend the event early enough.

"However, the atmosphere at the Stadium was always wonderful, an aspect which TV images managed to convey beautifully.

"All in all, the European Athletics Championships were a great opportunity to promote Zurich and Switzerland."

Zurich 2014 chief executive Patrick Magyar has admitted the ticketing price structure may have caused the empty seats that tarnished an otherwise memorable European Championships ©AFP/Getty Images

The Letzigrund, rebuilt in 2005, had a capacity during these Championships of 19,900.

Morning sessions across the six days of events saw 65 per cent take-up, with a total figure of 51,817.

"We were able to boost athletics among children and young people, we got to introduce a large number of people to our fantastic sport," said Magyar.

"We were able to use the championships for location marketing purposes, and we organised great competitions in a wonderful atmosphere."

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