Athletes will fight for European titles across four days of action in 17 different events on the Neretva river.

Among the names on the startlist are multiple European and World Championship medallists such as Hungarians Renáta Csay, Alexandra Bara, Vanda Kiszli and Adrian Boros.

Others include Portugal’s José Ramalho and Spain’s Manuel Campos.

The Championships were officially opened today with a ceremony at a summer cinema by the Neretva river.

Day one of competition will see the K1W, C1W, C1M and K1M junior events take centre stage along with the K1W under-23 race.

On Friday (July 6), the C1M under-23, K1M under-23, K2W junior, K2M junior and C2M junior events are all scheduled.

They will be followed by the senior C1W, C1M, K1W and K1M races on Saturday (July 7) and senior C2M, K2W and K2M events on Sunday (July 8).  

Competition unofficially started on Monday (July 2) with the European Canoe Association Marathon Masters Cup.

Metković is a city known for its handball team that won the European Handball Federation Cup in 2000, while Neretva river had an important role in the Second World War.

These events were depicted in the Oscar-nominated film Battle of Neretva.

Last year’s European Canoe Marathon Championships were held in Ponte de Lima in Portugal.