Edinburgh to host European climbing championships

The event, which is held biennially, went to EICA Ratho following a joint bid by EventScotland, City of Edinburgh Council, the British Mountaineering Council, Mountaineering Scotland and Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA):Ratho, Europe’s largest indoor climbing arena.

The European Championships will take place from 5^th to 6^th October 2019 and will be a chance to see some of the best climbers in Europe compete ahead of the sport’s debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It also follows the successful delivery of the IFSC World Cup when EICA:Ratho took centre stage for the fifth World cup in Lead and Speed of 2017. The sold-out event attracted more than 1,200 spectators, athletes and coaches.

Wolfgang Wabel, IFSC European Council President, said: “Edinburgh put on a fantastic show of climbing and paraclimbing in 2017, and we are confident the organising team will continue the proud legacy at the IFSC European Championships for Lead and Speed in 2019.”

Jamie Smith, ClimbScotland Team Leader, said: “Mountaineering Scotland is excited to welcome the IFSC European Championships to Scotland this year. It is great to see our National Centre being host to the competition, which will see some of Europe’s top climbers battle it out over the two days of competition.

“This event is a great opportunity to inspire our next generation of young climbers as well as helping raise the profile of the sport nationally. This is an exciting time for climbing, now being an Olympic sport and with Tokyo 2020 just around the corner.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “This is a great result following all the work that has gone into securing a second successive climbing event for Edinburgh after the success of the World Cup at EICA: Ratho in September 2017. Scotland is the perfect stage and EventScotland is delighted to be supporting the return of international climbing to the Scottish capital.

“This is an exciting time for the sport and Ratho is the ideal platform for people to see climbing first-hand ahead of its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”

Zoe Spriggins, BMC Competitions Programme Manager, said: “The British Mountaineering Council is proud to be able to assist Edinburgh in hosting this event. It will not only be a highly exciting competition in its own right, but is also the last chance to see our GB athletes competing on home soil ahead of Tokyo 2020.”