Poděbrady is a traditional walking destination. The first walking race took place here as early as 1894 on 50-km route from Praha to Poděbrady. Meeting is held annually since 1929 (except the war period 1941-44), in 1947 with international participation for the first time. Since 1991 meeting was moved to lap course in Poděbrady and shortened to 20 km distance in 2003.

Poděbrady Walking (EA Permit meeting at the time) is held here every year, so it has already had 88 editions. High number of world walking stars, including medallists from the Olympic Games and World Championships, presented themselves in this spa town.

In 1997, Poděbrady hosted the IAAF World Cup and it was a great success. Twenty years later, the “continental little brother” came to Poděbrady for the first time as European Cup. Both editions took place as part of the celebrations of Czech athletics’ anniversary, 100 years and 120 year respectively. At the latter time, German Christopher Linke and Italian Antonella Palmisano won at 20 kilometres, Ukrainian Ivan Banzeruk at men’s 50 km.

Previous edition was hosted two years ago by the Lithuanian Alytus, it was the last time the event was held as “cup”. So, it will be a premiere in Poděbrady under the new name “European Race Walking Team Championships”. Also, another two editions in 2023 and 2025 are to be held in Poděbrady.

This year's European Championships will take place on the one-kilometre spa circuit on Sunday 16 May and there will be a total of six championship races on the program. Men’s 50 kilometres and women’s 35 kilometres will start the program at 8:00. Long distance races will be followed by 10 kilometres for juniors (boys 9:00, girls 11:15). The start of the women's 20-kilometer race is scheduled for 13:30, and from 15:30 the men will race at the same distance.

The Poděbrady course is very fast and is popular with walkers. That is why a very strong foreign competition is preparing for the upcoming European Championships. From the domestic elite, we can look forward to Tereza Ďurdiaková. She made a last year breakthrough in walking and managed to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo a few weeks ago. In Poděbrady, Ďurdiaková will make her 35-kilometre premiere.