IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships The new Athletics Stadium capable of holding ten thousand spectators was built in the Oláh Gábor Sportcomplex specifically to host one of the most high ranking sporting events ever held in Eastern Hungary. It is one of the best established and most used sporting venues in Debrecen. The incredibly successful IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships took place in front of capacity crowds and was the first interntaional competition held in the Debrecen Sportcentrum. Statistics Dates: July 12-15, 2005 Place: Debrecen Athletics Stadium Countries attending:160 Athletes attending:1,330 Spectators:37,000 36th World Gymnastics Championships Debrecen undertook the hosting of this prestigious event following the withdrawal of another city. The event took place in the newly constructed and magnificent Fonix Hall and was ahuge success. This was confirmed by the President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Bruno Grandi, who said "Debrecen entered the history books as the host of a super-World Championships." Statistics Dates: November 20-24, 2002 Place: Debrecen, Főnix Hall Countries attending:56 Athletes attending:912 Spectators:16,000 IAAF International Coach Conference At the conclusion of the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Budapest, Debrecen hosted an IAAF international Coaches Conference at the IAAF Training Centre in the city The conference was attenfded by Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, István Gyulai, IAAF General Secretary, Cesar Moreno Bravo, IAAF Council Member, Igor Ter-Ovanesian, President of the Coaches Delegation, Elio Locatelli, Member of the Coaches Delegation, and many other coaches, athletes and Athletics organisers and officials from around the world. The Hungarian Olympic Committee was represented by Dr. Pál Schmitt, Zoltán Molnár and Iván Medvegy. Lamine Diack remarked after the event "I must congratulate this city and the efforts of the Debrecen IAAF Training Centre’s very enthusiastic team, who were able to demonstrate the impressive facilities here in Debrecen to so many from around the world." IIHF World U18 Championships Six teams including the Hungarian national team competed in this exciting event of World Class ice hockey in Debrecen’s Fonix Hall. The event was attended by large crowds of enthusiastic supporters who saw Ukraine win the championships with Hungary in second place. Statistics Dates:March 28-April 3, 2004 Place: Debrecen, Főnix Hall Countries attending:6 Athletes attending: 180 Spectators:12,000 Sitting Volleyball European Champions Cup The Olah Gabor Sports Hall hosted the European Champions Cup in November. 10 teams from 8 countries participated in this international event and the meticulous Dutch supervisor praised the Debrecen organisers for an immaculate event, which was won by the team from Spid in Bosnia. 3rd FIG Sports Aerobics European Championships There was huge interest in this gymnastics event in Debrecen’s Fonix Hall. There were 3500 spectators on the first day and on the Finals’ day on Sunday as well. The FIG delegates who werre in Debrecen for the event were most impressed with the organisation and the enthusiastic support for the local spectators. Statistics Dates: October 24-26, 2003 Place: Debrecen, Főnix Hall Countries attending:216 Athletes attending: 220 Spectators:6,000 Women Handball European Championship Debrecen hosted the Women’s European Handball Championships in December 2004. This major event took place in the Fonix Hall where the Hungarian team finished in third place to the joy of the huge crowds who attended. Statistics Dates: December 9-19, 2004 Place: Debrecen, Főnix Hall Countries attending:10 Athletes attending: 180 Spectators:13,000 2005 IIHF World Championships This major world event was the inauguaral event of the successful 2005 season of events in Debrecen. 6 nations took part in the event at the Fonix Hall. Much to the joy of the large crowds, the Hungarian team claimed a very creditable third place. Ice hockey once again proved to be abig hit with the debrecen crowds. Statistics Dates: April 17-23 2005 Place: Debrecen, Főnix hall Countries attending:6 Athletes attending: 180 Spectators:13,000 ETU European Duathlon Championships According to the International Triathlon Association, the Duathlon European Championships in 2005 was a huge success in Debrecen. Clive Faine the President of the ITU Duathlon Committee said "This was my 6th competition and it was certainly the best organised. The scene was simply wonderful. The competitors could compete in beautiful atmospheric surroundings with friendly and cheerful sports fans. I hope that the Duathlon sport will soon return here." Statistics Dates: May 15, 2005 Place: Debrecen, city centre Countries attending:27 Athletes attending: 380 Spectators:8,000 The Siemens Mens and Womens Gymnastics Championships The Gymnastics Championships for each apparatus was held in the Fonix Hall in Debrecen and was a great success. This was the first time that the best European men and women competitors had compted all together in this sport. During the competition the Hungarians performed very well and over 8,000 spectators attended. Statistics Dates: June 2-5, 2005 Place: Debrecen, Főnix Hall Countries attending:38 Athletes attending: 249 Spectators:8,500 1st IAAF World Running Championships The IAAF, the governing body for world Athletics, honoured Debrecen with the right to host their inaugural IAAF World Road Running Championships in October 2006. The competition took part in one of the most beautiful parts of Debrecen, in Nagyerdo where the University of Debrecen served as the competition centre and which will host the Youth Olympic Village, should Debrecen be awarded the right to host that inaugural event. Statistics Date: October 8, 2006 Location: University Square, Nagyerdő, Debrecen Countries attending:37 Athletes attending:200 Spectators:2,500 European Athletics Under 23 Championships In July this year, Debrecen was the host for the European Athletics Association’s Under 23 Championships, held at the Debrecen Athletics stadium. Hansjorg Wirz, the President of European Athletics congratulated the organisaers in Debrecen for a magnificent championships and praised the city for their work with junior sport. He said "This event was extremely well organised and the services guaranteed for the teams were perfect - allowing them to produce their best results" Dates: July 12-15 2007 Location: Debrecen Athletics stadium Countries attending:32 Athletes attending:1,150 Spectators:12,500