The European Cup Winter Throwing meeting has historically provided an early season opportunity for the continent's top throwers.

The 15th edition of the event sees us return to last year’s hosts Leiria in Portugal on 14-15 March, and it is sure to provide once again the platform for Europe’s best to compete against each other.

This will be the second time that Portugal will host the annual competition for athletes specialising in the events of discus, javelin, hammer throwing and shot put.

I have every confidence that this year’s edition of the European Cup Winter Throwing will once again be an excellent competition.

I would like to thank the Portuguese athletics federation, the local organising committee and the city of Leiria for their efforts in hosting this European Athletics event.

Leiria has proven itself as an excellent venue for European Athletics events.

I am looking forward to the city welcoming European, world and Olympic competitors from all over the continent in March, when they will do battle while also enjoying all that Leiria has to offer.

Hansjörg Wirz
European Athletics President

An honour, a challenge, a competition.

The organization of one more top level competition in Leiria, in this case the European Cup Winter Throwing, is the living testimony of national and international valorization which lies on the good work done by clubs in the municipality, as well as the municipal investment in all infrastructures related to athletics.
The partnership between the Municipality of Leiria and Juventude Vidigalense in the management of the National Throwing Centre - infrastructure which is now run by the club - proves that, especially in sports, working in partnership is a key element for success.
Consequently, thanks to this "new" infrastructure and also to the individual and collective performances of its athletes, Juventude Vidigalense has been able, in cooperation with the Portuguese Athletics Federation as well as with the European Association, to “bring” major events to the region of Leiria.
The performance of European top athletes is an obvious attraction for all lovers of athletics. Moreover, it represents an important occasion to promote athletics in the district of Leiria as well as an opportunity for the local economy.
Juventude Vidigalense, in particular, and Leiria, in general, are very pleased to host such a competition. Organizing the event is an honor but also a challenge that we count to win.

Raul Castro
Mayor of Leiria

 

The European Cup Winter Throwing is an international European Athletics´competition and is dedicated to the national teams of European countries, represented by athletes from the age of 17 who obtain the minimum for participation established by the respective federations.
The event is dedicated to both genred under-23 and senior athletes and involves Disc, Shot Put, Javelin and Hammer throwings.
As in 2013, Juventude Vidigalense, from Leiria, Portugal, applied in 2014 for the organization of the 2015 European Cup Winter Throwing edition, appliance which was approved by the European Athletics. The decision of promoting, once again, this competition was made:

• Bearing in mind that the 2014 edition has occurred according to the best expectations, due to the commitment and professionalism of all the entities involved;
• Taking into account that Leiria gathers very good conditions for the event, given the existence of the Estadio Municipal Stadium and the improved National Throwing Centre, two excellent sports facilities;
• Due to the tradition and strength that these disciplines have in our city, as evidenced by the fact that we had two Olympic athletes in London 2012 and also the numerous records and titles won by athletes from Leiria;
• Due to the excellent hotel offer both in Leiria and in neighboring municipalities;
• Thanks to the dynamic and JV experience in organizing European events, highlighting the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 2011 , 2012, 2013 and 2014; the European Cup Winter Throwing in 2014 and the International Meeting of Leiria in 2014;
• Due to the interest in promoting the city / region;
• Thanks to the competence of the judges of the Athletics Association of Leiria;
• Thanks to the collaboration of regional municipalities, in special the Municipality of Leiria and the Parish of Leiria, Pousos, Barreira and Cortes, as well as the Portuguese Athletics Federation.

As an institution of Public Utility, JV feels reinforced pride in assuming the responsibility of organizing once again an event of this level. It is a challenge, but also a unique opportunity to keep on promoting the city and the region of Leiria.

Daniel Pereira
President of the Local Organising Committee