Dublin Airport to host 2018 European Airports Football Championship

Dublin Airport Football Club will host the 18^th European Airports Football Championship this summer in north Dublin.

Football teams from major European airports, along with 3 from Russia, will compete in the biennial tournament to become champions of Europe. The tournament, now in its 34^th year of existence, started in Dublin in 1984 with the aim of fostering friendship through sport. The tournament has grown steadily over the years and this year Dublin Airport will play host to 20 teams from 9 different countries.

The festival of football will take place in the ALSAA Sports Complex, Dublin Airport between Friday 15^th – Sunday 17^th June. This year, the championship will also support the Dublin Airport staff charities which include IMNDA, Snow Flakes and Laura Lynn through fund raising initiatives over the weekend including a fun day.

 The 2018 tournament has received the full backing of John Delaney and the Football Association of Ireland.  

 During the recent launch of the tournament, John Delaney, Chief Executive of the FAI said “The European Airports Football Championship represents an incredible opportunity to see a truly international event hosted on home soil.  On behalf of the Football Association of Ireland we fully support this footballing initiative. I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Dublin Airport Football Club the very best for the forthcoming tournament in June.” 

 The tournament is returning to Dublin for the 3^rd time this summer after visiting 15 other host cities. Dublin Airport has previously won the tournament on 3 separate occasions including the inaugural event in 1984 and again in ‘92 and ‘96. The current champions, Moscow’s Domodedovo airport were crowned winners of the Don Treacy European Cup in Vienna in 2016.