Istanbul & Split to host 2008 events European Athletics is pleased to announce that the Turkish capital of Istanbul, and the Croatian city of Split, has been awarded the right to host European Athletics events in 2008. Istanbul, which has organised many successful European Athletics events in recent years, has been chosen to host the 12th European Cup 10,000m on April 12 2008. Turkey last hosted this event in Antalya in 2006, when Turkish star, World 10,000m silver medallist, Elvan Abeylegesse, kept the title at home for the host nation. Split, which was the host city for the 1990 European Athletics Championships, will host the 8th European Cup Winter Throwing on March 15-16. The venues for the various European Cups in 2008 will be announced shortly while the venues for the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 2011 and the SPAR European Cross Country Championships will be announced after the Council meeting on October 16 in Malta. Paris and Goteborg are the two candidates left in the race to host the Indoor Championships in 2011 while Dublin, (IRL) Carcassone, (FRA) and Bydgoszcz (POL) are looking to host the 2009 Cross Country Championships. European officials were in Dublin today to meet with Athletics Ireland and also to view the facilities available around the Santry Demesne course. Previous venues: European Cup 10,000m: 1997 Barakaldo (ESP), 1998 Lisbon (POR), 1999 Barakaldo (ESP), 2000 Lisbon (POR), 2001 Barakaldo (ESP), 2002 Camaiore (ITA), 2003 Athens (GRE), 2004 Maribor (SLO), 2005 Barakaldo (ESP), 2006 Antalya (TUR), 2007 Ferrara (ITA) European Cup Winter Throwing 2001 Nice (FRA), 2002 Pula (CRO), 2003 Gioia Tauro (ITA), 2004 Marsa (MLT), 2005 Mersin (TUR), 2006 Tel Aviv (ISR), 2007 Yalta (UKR) Source: European Athletics