Spar bags another year with European Athletics

Continental governing body European Athletics has extended its existing four-year sponsorship agreement with convenience store chain Spar International by a further year, with the new contract running until the end of 2016.

Spar has been the principal sponsor of European Athletics since 1996 and the extension covers the Amsterdam 2016 European Athletics Championships and the title sponsorship of the European Cross Country Championships in the same year.

The three editions of the European Cross County Championships from 2013-2015 – to be held in Belgrade, Samokov and Paray-le-Monial respectively – were already covered by the existing deal, along with the Zurich 2014 European Athletics Championships, Prague 2015 Indoor Championships and the Team Championships for both those years.

Christian Milz, director general of European Athletics, said: “We are particularly pleased to be coming to the home of Spar in 2016 when the European Athletics Championships are hosted in Amsterdam, the location of Spar’s headquarters.”

Alongside Spar on European Athletics’ international partner roster are Swiss luxury watchmaker Omega, cheese brand Le Gruyere Switzerland, public service broadcasting collective the European Broadcasting Union, visual content distributor Getty Images and Swedish merchandise supplier NeH.