PM Netanyahu congratulates Israeli men's marathon team European Athletics Championships gold

Medal ceremonies were delayed and athletes stranded at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on Saturday evening. Transport was suspended following the arrest of a man, believed to be in his thirties, on suspicion of fraud. The incident caused long queues for official transport, with some fans and athletes not returning to their hotels until the early hours of Sunday.

Britain’s triple gold medallist Amy Hunt was among those affected, continuing her pursuit of four European titles in the mixed 4x100m relay on the final day. Championship organisers confirmed that transport operations returned to normal by early Sunday morning. Birmingham 2026 released a statement, emphasizing their commitment to the safety and wellbeing of spectators, athletes, and staff.

They expressed gratitude for everyone's patience and understanding during the ordeal and promised further information on Sunday regarding postponed medal ceremonies. West Midlands Police confirmed the arrest and stated that the individual remained in custody for questioning. The atmosphere at Alexander Stadium was tense, with heavy police presence and long lines of people waiting for shuttle buses.

Fans expressed frustration on social media, with many reporting significant delays and limited communication from organizers.