The new agreement builds on the deal that has seen the food retailer as the principal sponsor of the continental governing body since 1996.

Spar's existing 2012-2015 contract already includes the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich, the 2015 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Prague, three editions of the European Cross Country Championships - Belgrade in 2013, Samokov in 2014 and Paray-le-Monial in 2015, and two editions of the European Athletics Team Championships - Braunschweig in 2014 and Cheboksary 2015.

"We are very pleased that Spar will continue as our main partner through till the end of 2016," Hansjörg Wirz, President of European Athletics, said.

"The support that they have shown athletics over the years has been of immense importance to us.

"With the invaluable contribution of Spar, we will continue to work hard to reach an even stronger position for athletics in Europe."

The European Athletics and Spar partnership dates back to 1996

Spar International's managing director, Gordon Campbell, explained that the partnership provides "a great platform for building the Spar brand worldwide".

"We are very much looking forward to the next European Athletics Championships in Zurich in 2014 and then Amsterdam in 2016," he said.

"Through our partnership with European Athletics, the Spar brand is closely aligned with dynamic people competing at the pinnacle of their sporting careers on the continent.

"This, combined with our support of national and local sporting events, makes our partnership with European Athletics the perfect fit."

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