The 3rd European Cross Country Championships were held at Charleroi in Belgium on 15 December 1996. Jon Brown took the title in the men's competition and Sara Wedlund won the women's race.
100 runners finished.
Total 24 teams
Iulia Negura from Romania finished first (16:58), but was disqualified because of doping violation. 73 runners finished.
Total 19 teams