Athletes welcomed to Bonnie's Scotland ahead of Glasgow 2018 European Championships

With the skirl of the pipes and a certain seal pup on-hand, the first athletes have started to arrive ahead of the Glasgow 2018 European Championships. Athlete delegations from Germany, Finland, Belarus, France, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Belgium and Slovakia were among the advance guard to arrive at Glasgow International Airport on Monday.

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More than 3,000 athletes are expected as part of a total delegation of around 8,500 including officials, media and others. A further 1,500 athletes will compete in Berlin. Their journey toward European Championship success got off to the very best start as they were piped through the airport and welcomed by Bonnie the Seal.

Championships Director, Colin Hartley, said:  “The Moment is here! We’re delighted to welcome the first athletes to Glasgow and Scotland and I have no doubt that they will enjoy everything both city and nation has to offer. We’re on our marks and we’re set to light up what promises to be an incredible 11 days of world-class sporting action.

“Glasgow and Scotland are ready and everyone is invited to be part of yet another incredible event. The months of planning and preparations are reaching fruition and we are determined to deliver an incredible festival of sport and culture for the participants and spectators alike.”

Glasgow will host European Championships in 12 sporting disciplines (Swimming, Diving, Synchro, Open Water; Track Cycling, Road, BMX and Mountain Biking, Gymnastics, Rowing, Triathlon and a new Golf Team Championships, whilst Berlin will host the Athletics. Athletes from 52 countries will compete for 152 medals across Scotland.