The third edition of Europe’s leading multi-sport event will get under way with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium on Wednesday 21 June. As the continent counts down, here’s everything you need to know about the Games – in numbers.
1 – The European Games will be the biggest sport ever hosted in Poland.
1st – Kraków-Malopolska 2023 marks the first time the European Games have been hosted in a member country of the European Union.
2 – There are two official mascots of the European Games: “Krakusek” The Dragon And “Sandra” The Salamander.
3rd – This will be the third edition of the European Games, which were first staged in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2015.
4 – Athletes will make history in Kraków-Malopolska as representatives of the inaugural EOC Refugee Team at the European Games in partnership with the Olympic Refuge Foundation of the International Olympic Committee.
8 – Sports will feature in the European Games for the first time, including padel, teqball, rugby sevens, ski jumping, muaythai, beach handball, breaking and sport climbing.
10 – Olympic sports will see athletes directly qualify from the European Games to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
13 – Town and cities in the Malopolska region will host competitions, from Krakow to the Tatra mountains. It’s part of a responsible, regional hosting model being pioneered by these Games.
16 – Reigning European Champions will participate across the six days of athletics competition in Chorzów, Silesia which will see the individual European Games champions crowned in the sport, alongside the three divisions of the popular European Team Championship.
18 – Olympic sports will feature, with 19 disciplines using the European Games as part of qualification pathways for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
25 – Venues will host events.
26 – Total sports on the programme of the European Games 2023.
50 – Countries, across two continents, in which the European Games 2023 will be available to watch thanks to an unprecedented broadcast rights agreement with the EBU.
1,000+ – accredited media representatives from across the continent will be in Poland to cover the Games.
6,500 – athletes representing 48 National Olympic Committees and the EOC Refugee Team will participate.
9,620 – people from 111 countries applied for 7,000 volunteer positions.