2023 European Games

3rd edition of the European Games

Not to be confused with European Championships (multi-sport event) or 2022 European Championships.

III European Games

Logo

Host city| Kraków and Małopolska, Poland
Motto| We are unity
(Polish: Jesteśmy jednością)
Nations| 48
Athletes| 6,857
Events| 254 in 29 sports [1]
Opening| 21 June 2023[2][3]
Closing| 2 July 2023[2]
Opened by| President Andrzej Duda
Torch lighter| Anita Włodarczyk
Marcin Oleksy and Janusz Pyciak-Peciak
Main venue| Stadion Miejski
Website| 2023 European Games

<- Minsk 2019

Istanbul 2027 ->

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2023 European Games.

The 3rd European Games (Polish: III Igrzyska Europejskie, Igrzyska Europejskie 2023), also known as the 2023 European Games or Kraków-Małopolska 2023, was an international multi-sport event held from 21 June to 2 July 2023 in Kraków and Małopolska, Poland.[4] It was the first time that Poland hosted the European Games. All Olympic sports held at the European Games provided qualification opportunities for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.[5]

"We are unity" – slogan on a train in Kraków

## Host selection

[edit]

Kraków was selected as the host city of the 2023 European Games

At the time of the 2015 European Games, the city of Manchester, United Kingdom expressed its wish to host the 2023 Games.[6][7] No further interest was expressed since after the 2018 European Championships were awarded to Glasgow, Scotland and the 2022 Commonwealth Games were awarded to Birmingham, England.

In May 2018, the European Olympic Committees (EOC) asserted that the bidding process for the 2023 Games would be open to joint bids from multiple countries.[8]

The EOC launched the bid process on 20 September 2018 after a meeting of the constituent National Olympic Committees in Stockholm.[9] Following the approval of the Bid Document, it was sent to the 50 NOCs in Europe alongside a letter from EOC President Janez Kocijančič inviting applications.[10] The application stage was set to close on 28 February 2019.[11]

In January 2019, Marcin Krupa, the mayor of Katowice, Poland, announced the city's interest hosting the Games, becoming the first candidate city.[12][13] Soon after, Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, Russia expressed its interest in hosting the 2023 Games and its intention to submit an application to the EOC.[14][15] Its bid would be made attractive by the fact the city built much sporting infrastructure when hosting the 2013 Summer Universiade and the 2015 FINA World Aquatics Championships and that a Russian bid has been supported by premier Vladimir Putin.[16][17]

In February 2019, the application deadline was extended by two months, until 30 April, due to "strong interest from across the continent".[18][19] In May 2019, after the extended deadline had passed, the EOC again postponed the deadline, this time until the 31 May.[20] No reason was given for the second extension.[20]

In May 2019, the Polish Olympic Committee announced that Kraków would replace Katowice as the Polish bid for the Games following the withdrawal of its bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics and the waning interest in Katowice.[21] The same month, EOC President Janez Kocijančič reiterated his expectation that the host for the 2023 Games would be chosen before the start of the 2019 European Games in Minsk on the 21 June 2019.[22]

After the deadline for bid submission passed on the 31 May 2019, the European Olympic Committees confirmed that only one formal bid had been completed, that of Kraków in collaboration with the province Małopolska.[23][24][25] The mayor of Kraków, Jacek Majchrowski, had previously said that the city might decline to run the Games without support from regional and national government.[26]

The official election of the European Games 2023 host took place at an EOC General Assembly in Minsk on 22 June 2019 where it was unanimously decided that Kraków and the surrounding Lesser Poland region would hold the Games.[27][28][29] The vote was by a show of hands.[30] The contract with the host city was signed on 17 May 2022.[31]

### Votes results

[edit]

2023 European Games bidding results  City  | Nation  | Votes

|
|

Kraków, Małopolska |  Poland | Unanimous

## Organisation

[edit]

On 28 June 2019, six days after Kraków was awarded the Games, the EOC confirmed it had signed a letter of intent with the European Union of Gymnastics to include gymnastics in the upcoming Games.[32] In July 2019, Hasan Arat, the vice-president of the Turkish Olympic Committee, was named chair of the EOC's Co-ordination Commission for the 2023 Games.[33] He said he was "honoured and humbled by the decision".[33]

In October the same year, both the city of Kraków and the Małopolska region signed a letter of intent confirming their joint commitment to the hosting of the Games.[34] In March 2020, Kraków's mayor Jacek Majchrowski warned of cuts to the city budget and impacts on the tourism industry due to coronavirus which could impact the success of the Games.[35]

### Funding

[edit]

In February 2021, the Games faced a funding deadlock when the city of Kraków said it needed financial guarantees from the Polish government in order to proceed with the signing of the host city contract. A spokesperson of the office of the mayor of Kraków, Jacek Majchrowski, said that the city had agreed to host the Games "only on condition that the government subsidised the necessary infrastructure". Government organisers blamed the city's leadership, with Jacek Sasin saying that "Kraków is the organiser of the Games" and that the government is "ready" to support it.[36] Sasin said that the government would commit to sharing funding, but only after Kraków signed the host city contract.[37] However, Majchrowski said that he would not sign the agreement until the government has introduced legislation supporting the event's organisation, leading to suggestions that Katowice, the original bid city, and the Silesia region could end up hosting the Games.[37][38] In a statement, the EOC said they were "working closely with the organisers" and remained "confident" that Kraków would sign the host city contract.[39]

In early March 2021, the EOC entered into talks with Silesian officials to explore the possibility of the region co-hosting the event.[40] Kraków and the Polish government were reported to have come to an agreement over funding by the end of March 2021.[3]

The opening ceremony in Krakow The Great Britain team at the European Games opening ceremony in Krakow

## Opening ceremony

[edit]

The opening ceremony was held at Stadion Miejski and ran from 20:30 to 23:45 CEST.

Order  | Nation  | Flag bearer  | Sport/Function

|
|
|

1 |  Greece | Elina Tzengko | Athletics
2 |  Albania | Alvin Karaqi
Ornela Mahmutaj | Karate
Team official
3 |  Andorra | Nana Linan | Taekwondo
4 |  Armenia | Gayane Chiloyan
Levon Aghasyan | Athletics
5 |  Austria | Sofia Polcanova
Lukas Weißhaidinger | Table tennis
Athletics
6 |  Azerbaijan | Yaylagul Ramazanova
Barat Guliyev | Archery
Fencing
7 |  Belgium | Camille Laus
Kevin Borlée | Athletics
8 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | Ada Avdagić
Nedžad Husić | Taekwondo
9 |  Bulgaria | Angel Kodinov
Yuliya Keremidchieva | Canoeing
Sport climbing
10 |  Croatia | Nikolina Ćaćić
Matej Nevešćanin | Boxing
Diving
11 |  Cyprus | Constantina Nicolaou
Christos Achilléos | Shooting
Taekwondo
12 |  Czech Republic | Iveta Miculyčová
Jan Kříž | Cycling
Sport climbing
13 |  Denmark | Line Gyldenløve Kristensen
Jonathan Groth | Beach handball
Table tennis
14 |  Estonia | Annika Koster
Joosep Karlson | 3x3 basketball
Canoeing
15 |  Finland | Netta Malinen
Antti Tekoniemi | Canoeing
Archery
16 |  France | Marie Mané
Jean-Charles Valladont | 3x3 basketball
Archery
17 |  Georgia | Tsiko Putkaradze
Zaza Nadiradze | Archery
Canoeing
18 |  Germany | Isabel Kattner
Max Rendschmidt | Beach handball
Canoeing
19 |  Great Britain | Abbie Brown
Joe Clarke | Rugby sevens
Canoeing
20 |  Hungary | Dóra Madarász
Ádám Varga | Table tennis
Canoeing
21 |  Iceland | Marín Aníta Hilmarsdóttir
Ingibjörg Erla Grétarsdóttir | Archery
Taekwondo
22 |  Ireland | Sarah Lavin
Liam Jegou | Athletics
Canoeing
23 |  Israel | Lonah Chemtai Salpeter
Joaquin Szuchman | Athletics
3x3 basketball
24 |  Italy | Odette Giuffrida
Mauro Nespoli | Judo
Archery
25 |  Kosovo | Donjeta Sadiku
Muhamet Ramadani | Boxing
Athletics
26 |  Latvia | Inese Tarvida
Roberts Akmens | Taekwondo
Canoeing
27 |  Liechtenstein | Nadina Klauser
Matthias Verling | Artistic swimming
Athletics
28 |  Lithuania | Henrikas Žustautas
Kamilė Nacickaitė | Canoeing
3x3 basketball
29 |  Luxembourg | Ni Xialian
Flavio Giannotte | Table tennis
Fencing
30 |  Malta | Elaine Genovese
Matthew Galea Soler | Tennis
Athletics
31 |  Monaco | Xiaoxin Yang
Nicolas Fedoroff | Table tennis
Padel
32 |  Montenegro | Bojana Gojković
Danijel Furtula | Boxing
Athletics
33 |  Netherlands | Isabel Barnard
Sheyi Adetunji | Beach handball
3x3 basketball
34 |  Norway | Elisabeth Hammerstad
Borgar Haug | Beach handball
Table tennis
35 |  North Macedonia | Milijana Ristikj
Emil Pavlov | Karate
36 |  Portugal | Fu Yu
Fernando Pimenta | Table tennis
Canoeing
37 |  Moldova | Zalina Merghieva
Serghei Tarnovschi | Athletics
Canoeing
38 |  Romania | Bianca Ghelber
Cătălin Chirilă | Athletics
Canoeing
39 |  San Marino | Alessandra Perilli
Mattias Mongiusti | Shooting
Table tennis
40 |  Serbia | Milica Novaković
Marko Novaković | Canoeing
41 |  Slovakia | Barbora Balážová
Miroslav Duchoň | Table tennis
Archery
42 |  Slovenia | Ana Tofant
Den Habjan Malavašič | Table tennis
Archery
43 |  Spain | Patricia Encinas Guardado
Carlos Arévalo | Beach handball
Canoeing
44 |  Sweden | Petter Menning
Linnea Stensils | Canoeing
45 |  Switzerland | Nikita Ducarroz
Westher Molteni | Cycling
3x3 basketball
46 |  Turkey | Merve Dinçel
Hakan Reçber | Taekwondo
47 |  Ukraine | Anastasia Pavlova
Andrii Rybachok | Archery
Canoeing
48 |  EOC Refugee Team | Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba
Kasra Mehdipournejad | Boxing
Taekwondo
49 |  Poland | Sandra Drabik
Łukasz Niedzielak | Boxing
Beach handball

## Games

[edit]

### Sports

[edit]

The following competitions took place:

2023 European Games

* Archery (8) (details) [41]
* Artistic swimming (8) (details)
* Athletics (38) (details) [42]
* Badminton (5) (details) [43]
* Basketball (2) (details) [44]
* Beach handball (2) (details) [45]
* Beach soccer (2) (details) [46]
* Boxing (13) (details) [47]
* Breaking (2) (details) [48]
* Canoe slalom (10) (details) [49]
* Canoe sprint (16) (details) [49]
* Cycling (4) (details) [49][50]
* Diving (13) (details)
* Fencing (12) (details) [49][51]
* Judo (1) (details) [49][52]
* Karate (12) (details) [49][45]
* Kickboxing (16) (details) [49][46]
* Modern pentathlon (5) (details) [49]
* Muaythai (10) (details) [49][41]
* Padel (3) (details) [49][53]
* Rugby sevens (2) (details) [49][54]
* Shooting (30) (details) [49][47]
* Ski jumping (5) (details) [49][55]
* Sport climbing (6) (details) [56]
* Table tennis (5) (details) [57]
* Taekwondo (16) (details) [49]
* Teqball (5) (details) [49][58]
* Triathlon (3) (details) [49][56]

In addition, the following sports as 'side events' (demonstration sports) were included on the official program:

Side Events at the 2023 European Games

* Mountain running (2) (details)
* Motor racing (details)
* Chess (1) (details) [49] (1)
* Amputee football (details)
* Sumo (12) (details)
* Orienteering (2) (details)

Traditional Martial Arts:[59]

1. Kurash
2. Ukrainian Traditional Belt Wrestling
3. Lithuanian Traditional Wrestling “Ristynės”
4. Ukrainian Wrestling “SPAS”

An E-sport European Games, recognised by the EOC, was also held alongside the Games, but did not form part of the Kraków 2023 program.

### Calendar

[edit]

OC | Opening ceremony  | ● | Event competitions  | 1 | Event finals  | CC | Closing ceremony

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

June/July  | 20th
Tue  | 21st
Wed  | 22nd
Thu  | 23rd
Fri  | 24th
Sat  | 25th
Sun  | 26th
Mon  | 27th
Tue  | 28th
Wed  | 29th
Thu  | 30th
Fri  | 1st
Sat  | 2nd
Sun  | Total
events

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Ceremonies |  | OC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CC |
Aquatics  |  Artistic swimming |  | ●  | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8
Diving |  |  | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |  |  |  |  | 13
Archery |  |  |  | ●  | 2 | 2 | ●  | ●  | 2 | 2 |  |  |  | 8
Athletics | ●  | ●  | ●  | 12 | 13 | 13 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38
Badminton |  |  |  |  |  |  | ●  | ●  | ●  | ●  | ●  | 2 | 3 | 5
Basketball (3x3) |  | ●  | ●  | ●  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Beach handball | ●  | ●  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Beach soccer |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ●  | ●  | ●  | ●  | 2 |  | 2
Boxing |  |  |  | ●  | ●  | ●  | ●  | ●  | ●  |  | ●  | 7 | 6 | 13
Breaking |  |  |  |  |  |  | ●  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Canoeing  |  Slalom |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10
Sprint |  | ●  | 4 | 6 | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Cycling |  BMX  |  | ●  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Mountain biking  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Fencing |  |  |  |  |  | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |  |  | 12
Judo |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  | 1
Karate |  |  | 6 | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12
Kickboxing |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ●  | ●  | 16 | 16
Modern pentathlon |  |  |  |  |  | ●  | ●  | ●  | ●  | 1 |  | 4 |  | 5
Muaythai |  |  |  |  |  | ●  | ●  | 10 |  |  |  |  |  | 10
Padel |  | ●  | ●  | ●  | ●  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3
Rugby sevens |  |  |  |  |  | ●  | ●  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Shooting |  |  | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 30
Ski jumping |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  | 2 | 1 | 1 |  | 5
Sport climbing |  |  | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6
Table tennis |  |  |  | ●  | ●  | ●  | 1 | 2 | ●  | ●  | ●  | 2 |  | 5
Taekwondo |  |  |  | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Teqball |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ●  | 2 | 1 | 2 |  | 5
Triathlon |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 | 1 |  |  | 1 |  | 3
Daily medal events |  |  | 21 | 36 | 38 | 34 | 12 | 25 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 26 | 31 | 254
Cumulative total |  |  | 21 | 57 | 95 | 129 | 141 | 166 | 175 | 188 | 197 | 223 | 254
June/July  | 20th
Tue  | 21st
Wed  | 22nd
Thu  | 23rd
Fri  | 24th
Sat  | 25th
Sun  | 26th
Mon  | 27th
Tue  | 28th
Wed  | 29th
Thu  | 30th
Fri  | 1st
Sat  | 2nd
Sun  | Total
events

## Venues

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Events took place in the city of Kraków, the surrounding Lesser Poland Voivodeship region and in Bielsko-Biała and Chorzów in the neighbouring Silesian Voivodeship.

Stadion Miejski in Kraków hosted the opening and closing ceremonies Stadion Śląski in Chorzów hosted athletics Tauron Arena Kraków Kraków Main Square Kraków-Kolna Canoe Slalom Course Kryspinów Lake Wielka Krokiew

### Kraków (twelve sports)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Stadion Miejski | Opening and closing ceremonies and Rugby 7
Cracovia Arena | Basketball 3×3
Hutnik Arena | Table tennis
Kraków-Kolna Canoe Slalom Course | Canoe slalom
Kryspinów Waterway | Canoe sprint
Płaszowianka Archery Park | Archery
Tauron Arena Kraków | Fencing
AWF Sports Centre | Modern pentathlon
Krakow Mainsquare | Teqball and Padel
Cracovia Hall | Kickboxing

### Krzeszowice (one sport)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Krzeszowice BMX Park | Cycling BMX Freestyle

### Chorzów (one sport)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Stadion Śląski | Athletics

### Krynica-Zdrój (four sports)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Krynica-Zdrój Hill Park | Mountain bike cycling
Krynica-Zdrój Arena | Judo and Taekwondo

### Bielsko-Biała (one sport)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Dębowiec Sports Arena | Karate

### Oświęcim (one sport)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Aquatics Centre | Artistic swimming

### Rzeszów (one sport)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Diving Arena | Diving

### Tarnów (four sports)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Hala Unii | Badminton
Tarnów Beach Arena | Beach handball and Beach soccer
Tarnów Climbing Centre | Sport climbing

### Wrocław (one sport)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Wrocław Shooting Centre | Shooting

### Zakopane (one sport)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Średnia Krokiew | Ski jumping (normal hill)
Wielka Krokiew | Ski jumping (large hill)

### Nowy Targ (one sport)

[edit]

Venue | Sports

|

Nowy Targ Arena | Boxing

## Participating National Olympic Committees

[edit]

The following 48 National Olympic Committees participated, along with the EOC Refugee Team:[60]

Participating National Olympic Committees

* Albania (40)
* Andorra (27)
* Armenia (55)
* Austria (170)
* Azerbaijan (100)
* Belgium (140)
* Bosnia and Herzegovina (55)
* Bulgaria (113)
* Croatia (130)
* Cyprus (74)
* Czech Republic (273)
* Denmark (163)
* Estonia (110)
* Finland (118)
* France (298)
* Georgia (100)
* Germany (361)
* Great Britain (254)[61]
* Greece (170)
* Hungary (246)
* Iceland (38)
* Ireland (123)[62]
* Israel (141)
* Italy (372)
* Kosovo (38)
* Latvia (98)
* Liechtenstein (7)
* Lithuania (148)[63]
* Luxembourg (60)
* Malta (36)
* Moldova (74)
* Monaco (3)
* Montenegro (40)
* Netherlands (186)
* North Macedonia (38)
* Norway (155)
* Poland (404) (host)
* Portugal (208)
* Romania (151)
* EOC Refugee Team (4)[64]
* San Marino (32)
* Serbia (125)
* Slovakia (145)
* Slovenia (143)
* Spain (347)[65]
* Sweden (141)
* Switzerland (220)
* Turkey (193)[66]
* Ukraine (265)

*As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Olympic Committees has taken a decision to not invite athletes from Russia and Belarus to the European Games.[67]

IOC Code | Country  | Running Order  | Athletes

|
|
|

POL | 1 |  Poland | 404
ITA | 2 |  Italy | 372
GER | 3 |  Germany | 361
ESP | 4 |  Spain | 347
FRA | 5 |  France | 298
CZE | 6 |  Czech Republic | 273
UKR | 7 |  Ukraine | 265
GBR | 8 |  Great Britain | 254
HUN | 9 |  Hungary | 246
SUI | 10 |  Switzerland | 220
POR | 11 |  Portugal | 208
TUR | 12 |  Turkey | 193
NED | 13 |  Netherlands | 186
AUT | 14 |  Austria | 170
GRE | 15 |  Greece | 170
DEN | 16 |  Denmark | 163
NOR | 17 |  Norway | 155
ROU | 18 |  Romania | 151
LTU | 19 |  Lithuania | 148
SVK | 20 |  Slovakia | 145
SLO | 21 |  Slovenia | 143
ISR | 22 |  Israel | 141
SWE | 23 |  Sweden | 141
BEL | 24 |  Belgium | 140
CRO | 25 |  Croatia | 130
SRB | 26 |  Serbia | 125
IRL | 27 |  Ireland | 123
FIN | 28 |  Finland | 118
BUL | 29 |  Bulgaria | 113
EST | 30 |  Estonia | 110
AZE | 31 |  Azerbaijan | 100
GEO | 32 |  Georgia | 100
LAT | 33 |  Latvia | 98
CYP | 34 |  Cyprus | 74
MDA | 35 |  Moldova | 74
LUX | 36 |  Luxembourg | 60
ARM | 37 |  Armenia | 55
BIH | 38 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 55
ALB | 39 |  Albania | 40
MNE | 40 |  Montenegro | 40
ISL | 41 |  Iceland | 38
KOS | 42 |  Kosovo | 38
MKD | 43 |  North Macedonia | 38
MLT | 44 |  Malta | 36
SMR | 45 |  San Marino | 32
AND | 46 |  Andorra | 27
LIE | 47 |  Liechtenstein | 7
ERT | 48 |  Refugee Olympic Team | 4
MON | 49 |  Monaco | 3
Total | 6,857

## Medal table

[edit]

* Host nation (Poland)

2023 European Games medal table[68]Rank| NOC| Gold| Silver| Bronze| Total

|
|
|
|
|

1|  Italy| 35| 26| 39| 100
2|  Spain| 21| 17| 19| 57
3|  Ukraine| 21| 12| 8| 41
4|  Germany| 20| 16| 27| 63
5|  France| 17| 19| 26| 62
6|  Poland*| 13| 19| 18| 50
7|  Great Britain| 12| 10| 27| 49
8|  Hungary| 10| 10| 18| 38
9|  Turkey| 9| 9| 20| 38
10|  Netherlands| 8| 6| 5| 19
11|  Czech Republic| 7| 10| 11| 28
12|  Austria| 7| 6| 6| 19
13|  Switzerland| 7| 5| 12| 24
14|  Denmark| 7| 5| 5| 17
15|  Romania| 6| 6| 5| 17
16|  Norway| 6| 4| 5| 15
17|  Croatia| 5| 4| 4| 13
18|  Ireland| 4| 4| 5| 13
19|  Georgia| 4| 2| 3| 9
20|  Slovenia| 3| 8| 2| 13
21|  Portugal| 3| 7| 6| 16
22|  Serbia| 3| 6| 7| 16
23|  Bulgaria| 3| 4| 5| 12
24|  Azerbaijan| 3| 2| 6| 11
25|  Latvia| 3| 2| 2| 7
26|  Sweden| 2| 7| 5| 14
27|  Greece| 2| 5| 10| 17
28|  Belgium| 2| 5| 6| 13
29|  Lithuania| 2| 2| 4| 8
30|  Finland| 2| 1| 5| 8
31|  Estonia| 2| 1| 0| 3
32|  Albania| 2| 0| 0| 2
33|  Slovakia| 1| 4| 3| 8
34|  Israel| 1| 1| 3| 5
35|  Moldova| 1| 0| 1| 2
36|  Cyprus| 0| 3| 2| 5
37|  Armenia| 0| 1| 2| 3
38|  Luxembourg| 0| 1| 1| 2
39|  Bosnia and Herzegovina| 0| 1| 0| 1
Monaco| 0| 1| 0| 1
North Macedonia| 0| 1| 0| 1
Totals (41 entries)| 254| 253| 333| 840

## Marketing

[edit]

### Emblem

[edit]

The official emblem of the games was unveiled on 21 June 2022, exactly one year before the opening ceremony. Designed by Marcin Salawa the emblem depicts a flame containing the towers of St. Mary's Basilica, to represent the city of Kraków and the Tatra Mountains, to represent the landscape of the Małopolska region. The colours, taken from the coats of arms of Kraków, and Małopolska, represent fire and water. Fire is said to symbolise action, will, energy, while water symbolises spirituality, emotions and purification.[69][70]

### Motto

[edit]

The official motto of the games is We are Unity, Polish: Jesteśmy jednością, lit. 'We are One'.

### Mascots

[edit]

“Sandra” and “Krakusek”, mascots, the official mascots

“Krakusek” the dragon and “Sandra” the salamander have been chosen as the official mascots for the European Games Kraków-Małopolska 2023.[71] The initiative, which received over 2,400 entries, was open to young people aged 5–15 across the continent. The dragon design by 15-year-old Katarzyna Biśta from Libiąż references the local culture and history of Kraków. Alongside Krakusek, the creation of the black and gold salamander by 10-year-old Gloria Goryl from Wojnicz portrays the fire salamander which can be found in south Poland.[71]

## Promotion

[edit]

### Sponsors

[edit]

On 6 July 2021, Atos has been selected by the European Olympic Committees as its official Digital Technology Partner for the 2023 and 2027 editions of the European Games. As part of this partnership, Atos, long-standing supporter of the Olympic Movement, and EOC, the governing body for Europe's 50 National Olympic Committees, will work together to improve fan engagement.[72] On November 14 2022, representatives of LaLiga and the European Games Organising Committee signed a cooperation agreement to mutually promote sports events and organisations.[73]

General Sponsor  | PKN Orlen

|

Main Partners  | Atos, La Liga, President of Poland, Lotto, MARR, Realme, Tauron Group
Media Patrons  | RMF, WP

### Broadcasting rights

[edit]

50 countries around the world will broadcast the European Games.[74]

* Albania – RTSH
* Austria – ORF
* Azerbaijan – CBC Sport
* Belgium – RTBF and VRT
* Bulgaria – BNT 3
* Croatia – HRT
* Cyprus – CyBC
* Czech Republic – ČT sport
* Estonia – ERR
* Finland – Yle
* France – TF1 and La chaine L'Équipe
* Germany – ARD and ZDF
* Greece – ERT
* Hungary – MTVA
* Iceland – RÚV
* Ireland – RTÉ
* Israel – TSC
* Italy – RAI
* Kosovo – RTK
* Americas - Panam Sports
* Latin America (except Brazil)1 – Claro
* Lithuania – LRT
* Netherlands – NOS
* Norway – NRK
* Poland – TVP
* Portugal – RTP
* Romania – TVR
* Slovakia – RTVS
* Slovenia – RTV Slovenija
* Spain – RTVE and ENJOY
* Sweden – SVT and SR
* Switzerland – SRG SSR
* Turkey – TRT and SARI
* Ukraine – UA:PBC
* Pan European – Eurosport

^1 – Included nations are Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

## Controversies

[edit]

### Former LGBT ideology-free zone

[edit]

The region of Małopolska, to which the Games were jointly awarded, declared itself an LGBT ideology-free zone in 2019.[75] In August 2020, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh Frank Ross wrote to Kraków's mayor Jacek Majchrowski to confirm the city's opposition to homophobia after calls for a "serious rethink" of the two cities' twinning relationship.[76] In September 2020, a group of European politicians (including Liz Barker, a member of the House of Lords and Terry Reintke and Marc Angel, two MEPs) published a letter addressed to the European Olympic Committees in which they demanded LGBT rights be respected and suggested that the Games should be held in a different location due to the Małopolska region's status.[77][78][79] Flemish sports minister Ben Weyts said the region's LGBT-free zone declaration is "incompatible with the values of the Olympic Charter" and that Olympic Committees should not support bids from such regions.[80] The EOC responded, saying that there would be "no discrimination of any kind" and that the Olympic Charter would be respected.[81] The Małopolska region revoked its declaration of an LGBT ideology-free zone on 27 September 2021 and instead adopted a resolution to "oppose any discrimination against anyone for any reason".[82]

### Status of Russian and Belarusian athletes

[edit]

The Polish government has announced that athletes representing Russia and Belarus would not be allowed to attend the games as a result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[83]

## See also

[edit]

* Sport portal
* Poland portal
* Europe portal

* European Games
* 2015 European Games
* 2019 European Games
* 2027 European Games
* European Championships
* 2018 European Championships
* 2022 European Championships
* European Para Championships
* 2023 European Para Championships

## References

[edit]

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62. ^ TEAM IRELAND
63. ^ Paaiškėjo galutinė Lietuvos rinktinės sudėtis: į Europos žaidynes vyks 131 sportininkas
64. ^ "Refugee Team at the European Games". 26 April 2023.
65. ^ #TEAMESP DELEGACION ESPAÑOLA
66. ^ Team Türkiye Avrupa Oyunları’nda 193 Sporcu ile Yarışacak
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71. ^ a b ""KRAKUSEK" THE DRAGON AND "SANDRA" THE SALAMANDER SELECTED AS EUROPEAN GAMES KRAKÓW-MAŁOPOLSKA 2023 MASCOTS". European Olympic Committees. 19 October 2022.
72. ^ "Atos to deliver secure digital services to European Games 2023 and 2027". Atos. 6 July 2021.
73. ^ "EUROPEAN GAMES OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED BY LALIGA!". European Games Kraków– Małopolska 2023. 14 November 2022.
74. ^ "50 countries around the world with broadcasting rights to the European Games". Krakow 2023. 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 19 April 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
75. ^ Bil Browning (12 October 2020). "Why does the Olympics keep choosing to reward the most anti-LGBTQ countries?". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
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80. ^ Alan Hope (8 October 2020). "Weyts attacks choice of LGBT-free Kraków to host European Games". Brussels Times. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
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83. ^ "Polish president Duda hails a European Games without Russia". Associated Press. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* 2023 European Games Official Website
* Krakow 2023 at EOC
* Krakow 2023 on Facebook

* v
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* e

European Games

* Sports
* Venues
* Medal tables
* Medalists
* EOC
* NOCs

* Baku 2015
* Minsk 2019
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* v
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Sports at the 2023 European Games in Kraków and Małopolska, Poland

* Archery
* Artistic swimming
* Athletics
* Badminton
* Basketball 3x3
* Beach handball
* Beach soccer
* Boxing
* Breaking
* Canoe slalom
* Canoe sprint
* Cycling
* Diving
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Kickboxing
* Modern pentathlon
* Muaythai
* Padel
* Rugby sevens
* Shooting
* Ski jumping
* Sport climbing
* Table tennis
* Taekwondo
* Teqball
* Triathlon

* v
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* e

Nations at the 2023 European Games in Kraków and Małopolska, Poland

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Great Britain
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Israel
* Italy
* Kosovo
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
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* Norway
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* Medal table
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