Leuven’s Running Champions Attract 160,000 Spectators, Ignite Business Debate

Leuven (Eurotoday) – Around 160,000 visitors came to Leuven for the European Running Championships. Mayor Mohamed Ridouani praised the event’s success, though local business reactions were mixed: while some saw increased foot traffic and sales, others experienced a downturn. Kevin Vanderauwera, a representative of Leuven’s hospitality sector, has proposed scheduling such events on Sundays to minimize disruption.

Several local business owners are urging the city to consider the impact of major sporting events more carefully. Vanderauwera emphasized the importance of consulting with shopkeepers before planning future races. He believes opting for Sundays—when most stores are traditionally closed—would allow the city to welcome these celebrations without affecting regular trade as much.

According to Vanderauwera, while events like these help bring visitors and generate buzz, it’s vital that the entire business community benefits. He noted that though cafés, bars, and restaurants often enjoy increased business, retail shops—especially those away from the main routes—may suffer. He stressed the need for balance if such competitions become a recurring fixture in Leuven.

Do big running events in Leuven benefit all businesses?

Not all Leuven businesses were satisfied with the European Running Championships. While many visitors came to enjoy the races, they didn’t necessarily spend time shopping. Stores located away from high-traffic areas saw notably fewer customers, with some businesses reporting lower-than-average sales over the weekend.

Traffic restrictions and road closures also discouraged regular shoppers from coming into the city center. Vanderauwera explained that while the hospitality industry largely benefited, retail businesses were impacted differently based on their location and visibility during the event.

Despite this, the championship weekend was lively. With an estimated 160,000 people in attendance, the city was buzzing. Local dining establishments were especially busy, and many vendors took advantage of the opportunity to present their offerings to a wider audience.

Vanderauwera acknowledged the immediate financial boost for some sectors and pointed out that such high-profile events could enhance Leuven’s image in the long term, potentially attracting more tourists and business in the future.

Mayor Mohamed Ridouani has expressed strong interest in organizing more large-scale running events, convinced of their positive impact on Leuven’s reputation and community engagement. He hailed the European Running Championships as a major success and sees them as a key part of the city’s future strategy.


Comments

7 responses to “Leuven’s Running Champions Attract 160,000 Spectators, Ignite Business Debate”

  1. Oh, splendid! Nothing like a good old running event to remind local shops they’re basically the marathon’s cheerleaders—just standing there while the real stars zip by. Who needs sales when you can have 160,000 spectators gazing longingly at the finish line, eh? 😂🏃‍♂️

  2. uncle psycho Avatar
    uncle psycho

    Oh, brilliant! Nothing like watching 160,000 people run around while the local shops play a vigorous game of “hide and seek” with customers. Who needs foot traffic when you’ve got a marathon, right? 😂🏃‍♂️

  3. Trixie Doodle Avatar
    Trixie Doodle

    Oh joy, nothing screams “economic prosperity” like a bunch of runners trampling over the dreams of retail shops. Maybe next time, we could just strap some cash to their backs and call it a day? 🏃‍♂️💸

  4. Twin Blaze Avatar
    Twin Blaze

    Oh, brilliant! Nothing says “let’s boost our economy” quite like a marathon that sends regular shoppers running for the hills. 🏃‍♂️💨 Maybe next time, we could schedule it for a Tuesday, just to really test our local businesses’ resilience, eh? 🤷‍♂️

  5. Beetle King Avatar
    Beetle King

    Oh great, 160,000 runners trampling through Leuven like it’s a new sport – who needs actual shoppers anyway? 😏 Let’s just hope the post-race discussions are as lively as the foot traffic! 🍻

  6. Voodoo Cyclone Avatar
    Voodoo Cyclone

    Leuven’s running champs pulling in 160,000 spectators? Brilliant! Just what every struggling shopkeeper wants—an audience that’s too busy watching joggers to buy a single pair of socks. 😂🏃‍♂️

  7. Lady In Red Avatar
    Lady In Red

    Oh, splendid! Because nothing screams “let’s boost the economy” like closing shops and making it impossible for locals to get a pint. 🍻 Who knew 160,000 spectators could turn into 160,000 reasons for retailers to cry into their unsold stock?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Brussels to Host Launch of Freedom of Thought Report 2025

Brussels to Host Launch of Freedom of Thought Report 2025

Humanists International is set to release the newest edition of its worldwide benchmark on the treatment of humanists, atheists, and the non-religious during a hybrid event in the EU district.
On Wednesday, 25 February 2026, Humanists International will hold the launch of its 2025 Freedom of Thought Report at Press Club Brussels Europe. The event will gather EU policymakers, human-rights officia

Read More

UK Must Accelerate Defense Spending: Starmer

UK Must Accelerate Defense Spending: Starmer

In response to the BBC report, Starmer informed journalists: “During the weekend, I was advocating at the Munich Security Conference that the U.K. and Europe must enhance their efforts in defense and security.”
He further stated: “This means we need to accelerate defense spending.”
Two defense insiders, one current and one former official, revealed to POLITICO that the shi

Read More

Morocco 2025: Tackling International Credibility and Corruption Challenges

Morocco 2025: Tackling International Credibility and Corruption Challenges

Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is an essential global governance indicator, scrutinized by investors, credit rating agencies, multilateral lenders, European institutions, and policymakers. The 2025 CPI highlights a global trend where institutional credibility is a form of power.
The index ranks 182 countries on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates extrem

Read More

Europe Moves Toward a Multi-Speed Future

Europe Moves Toward a Multi-Speed Future

At the Munich Security Conference, the U.S. adopted a gentler approach, though Europe still feels cautious.
In Brussels, during a Eurogroup meeting of finance ministers, the informal E6 grouping, consisting of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland, is gaining attention. These leading European economies are collaborating closely, sparking discussions about the EU possibly headi

Read More

PACE Unanimously Rejects New Protocol on Involuntary Mental Health Measures

PACE Unanimously Rejects New Protocol on Involuntary Mental Health Measures

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) unanimously reaffirmed its opposition to a new protocol on involuntary placement and treatment in mental healthcare, emphasizing it would hinder the elimination of coercive practices in these settings.
Assembly Stands Firm on Human Rights
PACEs was asked by the Council’s executive body, the Committee of Ministers, for its opinion on a dra

Read More

UK Police Request Government to Withhold Key Mandelson-Epstein Email Exchange

UK Police Request Government to Withhold Key Mandelson-Epstein Email Exchange

Starmer accused Mandelson of “repeatedly lying” to No. 10 about his ties with Epstein, while the police and government remain at odds over revealing Downing Street’s knowledge through documentation. The prime minister has faced scrutiny for appointing Mandelson despite his ongoing connection with Epstein post-conviction and has vowed transparency—a promise complicated by the with

Read More

EU Leaders Support ‘Game Changer’ Economic Reform to Compete with US, China, and Russia

EU Leaders Support ‘Game Changer’ Economic Reform to Compete with US, China, and Russia

BRUSSELS—European Union leaders have agreed to a comprehensive restructuring of the bloc’s economy to address a significant triple threat from Washington, Beijing, and Moscow, supporting urgent reforms aimed at creating “European champions” capable of competing in a challenging global landscape.
Meeting Thursday at a 16th-century castle in eastern Belgium, the 27 heads of state endorsed what Euro

Read More

A Strained Partnership: Europe and America Need Each Other, But Trust is Lost

A Strained Partnership: Europe and America Need Each Other, But Trust is Lost

He appealed to supporters with themes familiar to Make America Great Again supporters, focusing on shared (often economic) interests rather than the democratic values and rule of law that have historically united the alliance.
“We are connected by the deepest bonds nations could share, shaped by centuries of shared history, Christian faith, culture, heritage, language, ancestry, and the sacrifices

Read More

Marco Rubio’s Message to Europe: Steering Through a New Geopolitical Era

Marco Rubio’s Message to Europe: Steering Through a New Geopolitical Era

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to speak at the Munich Security Conference this weekend, using the occasion to emphasize that transatlantic partners are entering a “new era” in geopolitics and that their relationship is at a defining moment.
His attendance comes amid growing European concerns over the Trump administration’s increasingly confrontational stance toward allies,

Read More

Rubio Labels Navalny Poisoning Report as ‘Troubling’

Rubio Labels Navalny Poisoning Report as ‘Troubling’

Rubio stated that the U.S. not joining the five countries in making a statement doesn’t imply disagreement with the outcome, saying, “Those countries came to that conclusion. They coordinated that.”
Rubio commenced a two-day visit to Slovakia and Hungary on Sunday, aiming to strengthen relationships with two EU nations often in conflict with Brussels and whose leaders are close to U.S. Presi

Read More