Courtesy: LEN Media
As it’s been a tradition since 1967, the summer brings the continent’s best age-group athletes together in the respective aquatic disciplines. This year will see no less than eight meets in five sports, staged by seven cities around Europe.
“Age-group development has always been a corner-stone of European Aquatics and LEN is proud that our continent has richer traditions than any others in staging annual junior championships in each discipline” LEN President Paolo Barelli said. “We can count on reliable hosts every year in every sport so the events usually guarantee a fine competitive environment for the young European athletes. This is the best way we can serve our national federations’ interests who run outstanding programmes which keep Europe on top in the world of aquatics.”
The action kicks off today in Prague where the Czech Federation celebrates its 100th anniversary in style, by staging two great junior events: the first in artistic swimming, then in August in open water swimming (the latter one will take place in Racice).
Kazan in Russia has earned a great reputation as host of several outstanding aquatic showcases including the 2015 World Championships as the absolute highlight. This time the well-known venues will welcome the best young divers and swimmers in the last week of June and the first week of July respectively.
As a novelty, there will be four championships in water polo. Besides the usual U19 tournaments, the U15 Europeans will also be held for the very first time. Answering the requests of the federations, LEN was keen to offer this opportunity so the youngest boys and girls can play for the titles in July. The brand new complex of Burgas in Bulgaria and the great swimming pool in Kirishi, host of women’s Euro League and LEN Trophy Final Fours in the last three years in a row, will be the venues for these premieres.
The series of age-group events usually conclude with the junior water polo tournaments, this time two highly experienced hosts will accommodate the battles of the teen warriors, in Tbilisi (GEO) and Volos (GRE).
As usual, LEN shall offer free live streaming on its website from each event.
2019 European Junior Championships
Swimming: Kazan (RUS), 3-7 July
Diving: Kazan (RUS), 24-30 June
Artistic Swimming: Prague (CZE), 19-23 June
Open Water Swimming: Racice (CZE), 1-4 August
Water Polo:
• U15, men: Burgas (BUL), 21-28 July
• U15, women: Kirishi (RUS), 7-14 July
• U19, men: Tbilisi (GEO), 11-18 August
• U19, women: Volos (GRE), 1-8 September
