The championships are set to arrive in the UK for the first time this summer as Birmingham will host Europe’s best athletes at the Alexander Stadium.
Sprinting legend Darren Campbell believes this summer’s home European Athletics Championships will boost Team GB ’s hopes of athletics success at the LA 2028 Olympics.
The championships are set to arrive in the UK for the first time this summer as Birmingham will host Europe’s best athletes at the Alexander Stadium.
And for three-time European gold medallist Campbell, the pressure and support of a home crowd will provide the perfect preparation for Los Angeles.
“This competition will be a fantastic experience. And it will actually see the bigger fruits, I feel, in two years’ time,” he said.
“Off the back of the success of the British athletes in Paris, it’s fantastic that we have a home championship heading into LA.
“The energy, the atmosphere, the way the crowd will lift the athletes will be just what is needed in that respect.
“For myself, working with UK Athletics, we’re really trying to make them feel comfortable and realise that 95% of the people in the stands will be wanting good for you.
“Our message is to embrace it. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Just perform at your best and they’ll love you. That support will be there, so just give yourself the best chance to go out there and enjoy it.”
Campbell, who boasts two Olympic medals and three World Championships medals, knows all about the power of a home crowd.
Despite his Olympic success, the Sale-born sprinter puts the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games on a par, having won 200m bronze and 4x100m gold in his home city.
“I’ve tussled with it and I have said the Commonwealth Games was the biggest experience,” said the 52-year-old.
“When I reflect on that, it’s because I’ve never felt under so much pressure. The emotion, nerves, not wanting to let people down. The likelihood is there is going to be people in the stadium that you know.
“It meant that going into the Olympics in 2004 and any competition after that, I was able to control those emotions, those nerves.”
Campbell would go on to win Olympic gold in the 4x100m relay at Athens 2004, but it was not always a given that he would even be on the start line for that formative experience in Manchester.
“In 2001, I was injured the whole year. I’d drive to Manchester and see boards with my face on and think I don’t even know if I’m going to be there,” he recalled.
“But I fought and fought just to make the team. I scraped into the 200m final, and I was able to win the bronze medal.
“That’s when I understood the power of the home crowd. I remember walking out to the final of the 200m and I was in tears. I put my hand on Christian Malcolm’s shoulder because emotionally it was just a lot.
“The athletes appreciate people have come to watch them and give their all. I honestly believe there’s going to be some unbelievable performances [at Birmingham].”
Fans can still get their hands on tickets for the Birmingham 2026 championships that will take place from 10th-16th August, with a new release of home straight seats on sale from Tuesday 21 April at 10am.
Campbell, who is now UK Athletics’ head of sprints and relays, won his first European gold in the 100m at Budapest 1998, where fellow Brits Douglas Walker, Iwan Thomas and Colin Jackson won gold in the 200m, 400m and 110m hurdles, respectively.
And just as medals came in a glut nearly 30 years ago, Keely Hodgkinson, Georgia Hunter-Bell and Molly Caudery all took gold in one Sunday at the World Indoor Championships, promising more success this summer.
“You can take inspiration from your teammates. There’s nothing like it. Although athletics is an individual sport, you want your teammates to succeed,” added Campbell.
“Sometimes it takes someone to pull off a great performance that you don’t expect to gain that extra belief that, actually, I might be able to do that too.
“That helps the sport because inspiring the next generation is important. It means that the future athletes look and go, I want to be part of that. That’s where the dreams are made.”
Home straight tickets for every session will return to General Sale at 10am on Tuesday 21 April. To book and find out more, visit tickets.birmingham26.com.