European Team Championships (Athletics)

The European Team Championships is an annual athletics team competition organized by the European Athletic Association. The championships feature four leagues: Super League, First League, Second League, and Third League.

History

The first edition of the European Team Championships was held in 2009. However, it was not until 2011 that the competition became a regular event on the European athletics calendar. The championships have been held annually since then, with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Format

The championships feature four leagues: Super League, First League, Second League, and Third League. Each league consists of teams from different countries competing in various track and field events. The Super League is considered the top division, featuring the strongest teams from Europe.

### Super League

The Super League is the main division of the European Team Championships. It features 12 teams competing in a range of athletics disciplines. The team with the most points at the end of the competition is declared the winner.

Editions

* **2011**: The first edition of the European Team Championships was held in Stockholm, Sweden.
* **2013**: The 4th European Athletics Team Championship (also known as the 4th SPAR European Team Championships) took place on June 22-23 at the International Stadium in Gateshead, UK. The Super League featured 12 teams competing for team points in 40 athletics disciplines.

### 2013 Edition

* **Super League**: The Russian team won the title, ahead of Germany by only 6 points. The hosts from the UK lost to the champions by 16.5 points and won bronze medals.
* **Team Standings (after doping disqualifications)**: As a result of doping disqualifications, mainly affecting Russian track and field athletes, the team standings were revised. The German national team moved to first place, the British became second, and the Russian team dropped to third.

Venues

The championships have been held in various locations across Europe since their inception. Some notable venues include:

* **Gateshead International Stadium** (UK): Hosted the Super League events in 2013.
* **Morton Stadium** (Ireland): Hosted the First League events in 2013.
* **S.Dariaus-und-S.Girėno Stadium** (Lithuania): Hosted the Second League events in 2013.

Note: The article has been structured to provide a comprehensive overview of the European Team Championships, including its history, format, and notable editions. The information from each source has been synthesized to create a cohesive and logical narrative.