The decision was made following presentations by the three candidates in Helsinki at the European Athletics' 131st Council meeting.

"We are very pleased to confirm that Amsterdam will be the hosts of the European Athletics Championships in 2016," said European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz.

"We are sure that we can look forward to a fantastic event."

It will be the first time that the Championships, which started in 1934, have been held in the Netherlands.

The event is due to be held at the Olympisch Stadion, which was built to host the 1928 Olympics.



Dutch officials hope that a successful event could be the launchpad for a bid to host the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics to mark the centenary of those Games, a point acknowledged by Eric van der Burg, Amsterdam's Vice-Mayor.

"We are very proud to have been entrusted with this great event," he said.

"This is also a milestone for the Netherlands and its vision to bring the Olympic Games to the country in 2028."

Ellen van Langen, the 1992 Olympic 800 metres champion and currently Head of Elite sport for the Royal Dutch Federation, was part of the delegation that presented the bid.

"We are proud to have been selected among such strong competitors and we thank the EA Council Members for their trust," she said.

"We promise to deliver a European Championships like never before."

But the decision is a blow to Istanbul, who were hoping that they would be selected to give their current campaign to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics a boost.

The announcement could also have implications for London's bid to host the 2017 World Championships, which the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruling Council are due to vote on in Monte Carlo next Friday (November 11).

Amsterdam's campaign was managed by TSE Consultants, the Swiss-based firm who are undertaking the same role for Doha, London's only rivals.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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November 2011: Amsterdam, Istanbul and Split battling to host 2016 European Athletics Championships