On the day of the race, an estimated 7000 spectators were in attendance and a total of 323 athletes represented 30 European nations.Dublin shows the diversity and strength of European distance running. European Athletics (14 December 2009). Retrieved 16 December 2009. Although the championships only accepts athletes who are citizens of European countries, African-born athletes were highly represented among those who reached the podium: Ethiopian-born runners Alemayehu Bezabeh and Sultan Haydar Sultan, and Algerian-born Noureddine Smaïl all took gold medals, while Atelaw Yeshetela and Somalian-born athlete Mo Farah won minor medals.
