06 March 2024 at 12:03
Dafne Schippers has been appointed tournament director of the 2025 European Indoor Athletics Championships in Apeldoorn. The tournament will take place from March 6 to 9.
The 31-year-old Schippers ended her impressive athletics career at the end of last year. The two-time world champion in the 200 meters and Olympic silver medalist retired due to persistent back problems.
Last weekend the Dutch athletics team won five medals at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Femke Bol won gold twice, Lieke Klaver won gold and silver.
Schippers is honored with her new task. “How nice it is to have a tournament in your own country,” she said at a press meeting on Tuesday. “It was great to finish on the highest podium in the Olympic Stadium in 2016,” she recalled her European titles in the 100 and 4×100 meters relay at the European Championships in Amsterdam.
“I have given myself a year to discover what I want now and where I will get new energy from. I think it’s great to stay in this world. Athletics remains my sport, so I think it’s great that I can can remain involved. Such a huge European Championship in my own country, I can’t say no to that.”
After Rotterdam in 1973 and The Hague in 1989, it is the third time that the European Indoor Athletics Championships have come to the Netherlands. Ticket sales are going well, the organization reported. The regular tickets for Saturday and Sunday evenings are already sold out.
Beeld: Getty Images
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Athletics European Indoor ChampionshipsDafne SchippersApeldoorn
