YourYour SSportport fforor LLifeife

Newsletter of European Athletics 1 / 10 | JULY INSIDE TRACK

THE STAGE IS SET Your Sport for Life WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

Eyes of the world IMPRESSUM turn towards European Athletics Association Européenne d’Athlétisme This will mean that the whole of Barcelona President: can be a part of the championships. Of Hansjörg Wirz course, staging the championships is a Vice Presidents: great logistical challenge and I extend Jose Luis de Carlos, my thanks to the B10 local organising Svein Arne Hansen Treasurer: Karel Pilny committee under the leadership of Director General: José Maria Odriozola and the general Christian Milz coordination of Monica Barra and the European Athletics staff members, who Offi ce: Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 18 have all worked so hard to make the event CH-1003 Lausanne a success. Switzerland Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 50 An important measure of success is to Fax +41 (0)21 313 43 51 offi [email protected] have a full stadium every day. Ticket sales www.european-athletics.org for Barcelona 2010 have been increasing Hansjörg Wirz | President, European Athletics in the lead-up to the event and we are “Inside Track” is published by confi dent that large and enthusiastic European Athletics I write this with a growing sense of excitement and anticipation just a few days before crowds will cheer the athletes on every Co-ordination: the start of the 20th European Athletics Championships in Barcelona – the pinnacle of day. James Mulligan the European Athletics competition programme. Aditya Kumar There has been a strong demand, European Athletics Communication Department The championships are very important for our movement. It is the shop window for meanwhile, for sponsorship packages Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 57 athletics in Europe, when established and new stars of our sport have the chance to for the event. Several important National [email protected] shine on the continental stage, and it is when our sport reaches its largest audience. Partners and Suppliers have been signed up, while European Athletics’ Text, Photos: James Mulligan, Aditya The eyes of Europe – and the world – will be trained on Barcelona between 26 July and main International Sponsor SPAR and Kumar, Bill Glad, Phil Minshull, 1 August, with the event attracting a huge amount of interest from media, sponsors and International Partners OMEGA, EPSON, Hansjörg Wirz, Christian Milz, the public. LE GRUYÈRE and INTERSPORT will Peter Stafford, Andy Heading, have a high-profi le presence during the Picture Alliance Indeed, the value of this high-quality event cannot be underestimated – not least in terms event. of what it brings to the host city. Design, Production: AMK Atelier für Marketing Three weeks before the start of proceedings, und Kommunikation Our belief is for these championships to be fully integrated within the city so that the 46 television channels had expressed their Amstutzstrasse 14 event doesn’t begin and end as one enters and leaves the stadium. With this in mind, I intention to broadcast the event with about CH-6010 Kriens, Switzerland Phone +41 (0)41 320 00 72 am very much looking forward to being in Barcelona for such a special event that will 1,000 hours of coverage planned over Fax +41 (0)41 320 00 79 be celebrated throughout this famous city. The opening ceremony, which will showcase the six days of competition, with some [email protected] local identity, arts and culture, will take place in front of Barcelona’s Font Magic on major broadcasters still to express their Avenida María Cristina. And for the fi rst time in the history of the European Athletics intentions. Television is the gateway for Print: Multicolor Print AG Championships, the Marathon and Race Walk events will be entirely held in the city our sport to a wide audience of existing CH-6340 Baar, Switzerland centre.

Cover page The stage is set for the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona 2 WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT 14 ECH 2014 AND BEYOND 20 DEVELOPMENT between 26 July and 1 August. • Eyes of the world turn • Long-term planning paving way for • EU athletics projects making towards Barcelona successful future events progress 4 BARCELONA 2010 15 EVENT REVIEW 21 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP • Barcelona opens its arms to the rest • returns to number one • European Athletics building of Europe Premium and Classic Meetings brand 17 SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT • Blasts from the past • European Athletics and B10 take 22 DIRECTOR GENERAL’S STATE • Internet Initiatives responsibilities seriously OF SPORT • A Trip down memory lane • Making athletics “Your Sport for • Meet ‘Team European Athletics’ 18 YOUNG LEADERS FORUM Life“ for future generations AND ONLINE COMMUNITY 12 2012 24 2010 AWARDS NIGHT • Helsinki 2012 – let the new tradition • Looking for the future leaders • Time to honour the best of begin European athletics

2 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y

and potential new fans and I am happy Olympic year as it switches from the four-year cycle. It will be the third time the Finnish to say that our long-standing partnership city will host the event after 1971 and 1994. Let us not forget that the city also hosted the with the European Broadcasting Union, IAAF World Championships in 1983 and 1995. The 2005 World Championships was a which has been of the utmost importance fantastic success and Helsinki is very capable in organising large-scale events. in ensuring excellent coverage of our events across Europe since 1981, is set to It was a near-unanimous decision during the European Athletics Congress in Cannes continue. in 2007 when 47 Member Federations out of 50 accepted the integration of a second European Athletics Championships into our four-year competition programme. This With all these important elements in overwhelming consensus shows the support our Member Federations have for the place, I am sure that the European championships every two years. Athletics Championships in Barcelona will be a memorable occasion and that the Of course, there are challenges that need to be addressed but the European Athletics spectators in the stadium and the millions Championships will integrate successfully into the Olympic year and be an important of TV viewers across the continent and competition in the schedule. around the world will enjoy watching Europe’s best athletes battle to become I am sure that once Helsinki takes the baton from our friends in Barcelona following a European champions. fantastic championships this summer they are sure to provide us with a successful new chapter in the history of European Athletics in 2012. The excitement of Barcelona will have barely died down before expectations rise For now, though, our attention is 100 percent with Barcelona. I hope you enjoy the once more, this time for the 2012 European spectacle as much as I will. Athletics Championships in Helsinki. This will be the beginning of our fl agship event following a two-year cycle. This is a necessary change from the four-year cycle – not least as an answer to the changing habits and expectations of society.

The switch is certain to increase the championships’ visibility, take advantage of the intense interest in athletics during the Olympic years and add momentum to the sport ahead of the Games, and increase the number of European European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz and Jordi Hereu, the mayor of Barcelona (5th and 7th from the champions – thus providing inspiration to left), are joined by some of the key members of the Local Organising Committee of the European Athletics Championships during the inauguration of the “world’s fastest track” – the Mondotrack FTX – at the Olympic a great number of Europeans, particularly Stadium in Barcelona. young Europeans. Helsinki is the perfect candidate to organise our main championships in an

European Athletics thanks its valued International Sponsors and Partners present during Barcelona 2010

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 3 Your Sport for Life EVENT PREVIEW Barcelona opens its arms to the rest of Europe

From the magnifi cent opening ceremony of the European Athletics Championships Barcelona 2010, which will be held by the Font Màgica de Montjuïc on the evening of July 26, until the event closes six days later on August 1, spectacular is a word that will be used frequently.

Spectacular, because the fantastically in Barcelona, but never before have these The vast majority of those medallists and picturesque setting of the championships championships been staged in Spain. winners from 12 months ago will also could leave visitors to the Catalan city, be present in Barcelona, putting their especially those who have never been History tells us that championships records will be broken during reputations on the line. before, gasping in astonishment. the six days of competition, and perhaps even European records will be set, although it’s obviously impossible to say which ones “I am aiming to win the gold at the Spectacular, because the feats by the will fall. Europeans. It would be foolish of me athletes in the Olympic stadium - which is to think anything other than that,” sometimes known by its offi cial title Estadi Around 1,500 athletes from European Athletics’ 50 Member commented Great Britain’s 400m hurdler Olímpic de Montjuïc Lluís Companys Federations will take part in the 20th edition of the championships, David Greene recently. - during the six days of action should which were inaugurated in 1934. match their surroundings and evoke a The Welshman was a World Championships similar response among spectators in the For many competitors, they will be the embodiment of the fi nalist and the fastest man over the stadium or in front of their TV screens, famous saying by Olympic Games founder Pierre de Coubertin, barriers in 2009 and he has maintained and not just in Europe but all around the “The important thing in life is not victory but combat; it is not to his place at the top of the rankings this world. have vanquished but to have fought well.” summer, including winning at the SPAR European Team Championships last This year’s European Athletics However, for others, only standing on top of the podium or month to become the favourite for his Championships will be a milestone in getting a medal will suffi ce. event in Barcelona. Spanish history. European athletes won 37% of the medals at last summer’s His ambitious words and commitment are The country has staged many magnifi cent World Championships in and 14 men and women were typical of those who currently reside in the sporting occasions, including the 1992 crowned as world champions. top echelon of the continent’s athletes.

4 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK EVENT PREVIEW e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y

Inevitably over a four-year cycle of the They will be seeking to hold the Olympic, which will help give the championships a distinctly Spanish and European Athletics Championships, some European and world titles simultaneously also Catalan fl avour. famous names will retire and others, like in the same event, the only three athletes Greene, will emerge to take their place. in Barcelona that can achieve that honour, Riding on the crest of a wave of success for Spain on other sports However, Barcelona will also welcome and one that Thorkildsen already has to in recent years, expectations are high, but there is optimism that several athletes who have shown their his name after winning four years ago in the host country can equal or better its record 15 medals won in competitive mettle over an even longer Göteborg. eight years ago. period. Borchin and Kaniskina will be part of a very One Spanish personality who has already made his mark though, Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu (100m), strong Russian team that was the most is the championships mascot Barni. ’s Mehdi Baala (1500m), Sweden’s successful nation four years ago when Christian Olsson (Triple Jump) and they got 34 medals, 12 of them gold. Barni has become a familiar face across the length and breadth the Czech Republic’s Roman Šebrle of Spain and Europe, meeting and greeting some of the most (Decathlon) all won their fi rst European Russia showed only last month that the famous names within athletics and in many other sports as he title in 2002, defended it four years later, country’s athletes, coaches and offi cials has tirelessly promoted the event. and the quartet are expected to be in the have not let their guard drop by winning hunt for their third consecutive titles. the SPAR European Team Championships Tennis player Rafa Nadal, Argentine football star Lionel Messi and by a big margin. a myriad of athletics’ defending world and European champions Another type of hat trick will be sought are just some of the people he has embraced on his travels since by the Norwegian Javelin thrower Andreas However, although thousands of fans will the start of 2008. Thorkildsen and the Russian walkers Valery fl ock from all corners of Europe to the Borchin and Olga Kaniskina. Mediterranean, there will also be a huge There will be many more welcomed into his arms during the contingent of local supporters in Barcelona championships.

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 5 Your Sport for Life CHAMPIONSHIP MILESTONES Blasts from the past

The 76-year story of the European Athletics women in society, the expansion of the of the event reveals the ever-growing Championships refl ects the history of notion of what it means to be “European” popularity of European Athletics. Europe itself. The competition has been and of course a number of great sporting Here are some of the milestones that a witness to a paradigm shift Europe has performances, one can see traces of these have been integral to the making of been through in the last century. Be it the when you go through the history of the the championships: shadows cast by war, the unmistakable European Athletics Championships. But, marks left by the changing position of most of all, a look back at the history

Luigi Beccali Francina “Fanny” Elsje Blankers-Koen

Torino 1934 and 4X100m relay) and one silver (100m). By the European delighted the home fans by championships in in 1978 she had increased her total of winning the 1500m to become the sport’s European championships medals to a record-breaking 10; she fi rst ever European champion. Germany won seven medals, among them three gold, at four Olympic and Finland dominated the 1st European Games. Athletics Championships in which 23 countries participated. Torino also saw the Prague 1978 fi rst world record at the European Athletics Four world records were registered in the women’s events Championships when Matti Järvinen (FIN) during the championships. East Germany’s took the won the Javelin with a throw of 76.66m. women’s 400m taking the discipline to an all together new level after she ran the fi rst sub 49 second performance for one lap 1946 (48.94). High jumper (ITA) had to equal her own The Netherland’s Francina “Fanny” Elsje world record of 2.01m to win over Rosemarie Ackermann (GDR). Blankers-Koen started her collection (USSR) ran 54.89 to break the 400m hurdles of numerous titles by winning the 80m world record and the fourth record was delivered by long jumper hurdles in Oslo. Nicknamed ‘the Flying Vilma Bardauskiene (USSR), who jumped 7.09m in the qualifying Housewife’, Koen went on to win four round for the record and won the fi nal with a superb 6.88m. Olympic titles, fi ve European titles and 58 Dutch championships, and set or tied 12 1982 world records. In one of the biggest upsets in the history of the championships Germany’s Hans-Peter Ferner defeated the then world record Hans-Peter Ferner 1966 holder of Great Britain in the men’s 800m race. One of the most dominating athletes of Briton Daley Thomson won his fi rst European title with a new all time, Irena Szewiñska of Poland won world record of 8744 points, adding 21 points to the previous three gold medals (200m, Long Jump Decathlon record of Jürgen Hingsen (FRG) who came second.

6 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP MILESTONES e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y

Paula Radcliffe Carolina Klüft

Stuttgart 1986 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles with in the Javelin in both the qualifying round (87.45m) and in the Four world and two European records 37.79. fi nal (89.72m). highlighted the championships. East Germany’s equalled the Helsinki 1994 Munich 2002 existing 200m world record with 21.71 Sonia O’Sullivan won the fi rst ever Irish Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe led the 10000m from the start and Marina Stepanova (USSR) lowered gold medal in a running event in the and, amid torrential rain, set a new European record of 30:01.09. the existing 400m hurdles world record of 3000m. Spain’s Marathon men Martin Steve Backley won the Javelin (88.54m) and became the fi rst (GDR) to 53.32 by beating Fiz, Diego Garcia and Alberto Juzdado British athlete in history to achieve four consecutive European her into second place. Fatima Whitbread completed a clean sweep winning gold medals. There was a historic dead heat in the men’s 1500m (GBR) set a Javelin world record (77.44m) the gold, silver and bronze medal when France’s Mehdi Baala and Spain Reyes Estevez had to share in her qualifi cation group while Sebastian respectively. the gold medal. 19-year-old Caroline Klüft (SWE) enthralled the Coe (GBR) eventually won a European crowd by setting a new world junior record in the Heptathlon, title, beating off team mates Tom McKean Budapest 1998 beating two-time European champion Sabine Braun (GER). and . Christine Arron of France won the 100m, setting a new European record of 10.73 Göteborg 2006 (USSR) defeated his elder in the process, while Ireland’s Sonia Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu added the European title to his brother Vasiliy to win the gold medal in O’Sullivan dominated both the 5000m Olympic Games silver medal in Athens. The 27-year-old kicked the Pole Vault. and the 10000m. With jumps of 7.16m off at a brilliant pace to win the 100m in 9.99 seconds and in the second and third round, Heike completed the sprinters’ double taking the 200m title with Split 1990 Drechsler (GER) won the Long Jump for a national record of 20.01. Home stars Carolina Klüft and The French 4x100m relay team of Max the fourth consecutive time. Three British Christian Olsson withstood the pressure of expectations and Morinière, Daniel Sangouma, Jean- athletes broke championship records to produced dominating performances to take the gold medal in Charles Trouabal, Bruno Marie-Rose win gold medals: Darren Campbell in the Heptathlon and Triple Jump respectively. created a sensation breaking the six-year- 100m (10.04); Jonathan Edwards in the old world record set by the US team at the Triple Jump (17.99m); Steve Backley (GBR)

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 7 Your Sport for Life INTERNET INITIATIVES

European Athletics Championships to offer rich multimedia experience

The 20th European Athletics Championships, to be held between 26 July and 1 August in Barcelona, is poised to offer an experience that athletics fans will fondly remember for years to come. The historic Olympic Stadium that hosted the Summer Games in 1992 is ready to host the best athletes from across Europe.

Special care has been taken to ensure that Courtesy of our long-standing partnership with the European every spectator, whether in the stadium Broadcasting Union, the championships will be streamed live on or following the event on TV or online, www.eurovision.net. Besides, athletics fans can also catch daily experiences every bit of the action as it highlights and behind the scene action on a dedicated video unfolds. A brand new webpage dedicated channel on the European Athletics website. to Barcelona 2010 has been launched Audio interviews of athletes will be uploaded as they happen on our website www.european-athletics. throughout the event. End-of-the-day audio wraps will also be org. The coverage will include daily available on www.european-athletics.org. reports, event-by-event updates, special At European Athletics we understand the value supporters bring features on the gold medal winners, live to our sport. As the governing body of athletics on the continent, results, photo gallery and much more. it is our priority to facilitate this symbiotic relationship of athletes One can also keep tabs on all the action and fans. For an athlete there is no bigger motivation than by following us on social networking sites thousands of cheering fans in a stadium and, for a fan there is no Facebook and Twitter or sharing sites bigger sight than seeing his or her favourite star in action. YouTube and Flickr. We hope that athletics supporters will enjoy the European Athletics Championships. Once again, we look forward to your valued feedback.

8 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP POSTERS e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y A trip down memory lane

European Athletics relives the journey of the European The inaugural edition of the European Athletics Championships were held in the Italian city of Torino in 1934 and ever since Athletics Championships through the posters of the event the championships was held been organised every four years, albeit with a few exceptions such as an like an eight-year break which came into being as an initiative of the International between 1938 and 1946 due to the Second World War and the championships of 1969 and 1971 when they were held in odd Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) European years for the fi rst time. The championships are set to enter a new ear with the introduction Committee in 1933. of a two-year circle for the event. For the fi rst the European Athletics Championships will be organised in an Olympic year in the Finnish capital of Helsinki in 2012.

Missing posters: 1934 Torino, 1938 (Men) , 1938 (Women) , 1950 Brussels

INSIDEIN TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of Europeann AAtAthleticshletics www.european-athletics.org 9 Your Sport for Life STAFF Meet ‘Team European

Hello, my name is ... Christian Milz Hello, my name is ... Christiane Maillard Athletics’ I’m from ... Switzerland I’m from ... Switzerland My job is ... Director General My job is ... Corporate Services Manager My favourite athlete is ... each athlete My favourite athlete is … the rising star who shows an outstanding performance Christophe Lemaître The events I’m most looking forward The event I’m most looking forward to are ... Decathlon and Heptathlon that to is ... the 100m will crown the genuine King and Queen of My favourite things about Barcelona athletics in Europe are ... the tapas! My favourite things about Barcelona are … the Olympic Stadium, El Boqueria, Gaudi, Iniesta and Adrià

Here’s a quick introduction to the European Athletics team who will be in Barcelona and the inside track on what they are looking forward to the most during the European Athletics Championships – the biggest athletics event of the year. Hello, my name is ... Lars Kaiser Hello, my name is ... Marcel Wakim I’m from ... Germany I’m from ... Germany My job is ... Sales & Marketing Manager My job is ... Competition Manager My favourite athlete is ... Heike My favourite athlete is ... Manuel Drechsler Martinez The events I’m most looking forward The events I’m most looking forward to are ... the women’s and the to are ... the men’s middle distance races relays My favourite things about Barcelona My favourite things about Barcelona are ... the food, the people and FC are ... the song of the B10 TV advert, Barcelona (!) sunshine, and beaches!

Hello, my name is ... Ede Rutkovszky Hello, my name is ... Peter Stafford I’m from ... Hungary I’m from ... Ireland My job is ... Competition Consultant My job is ... Projects Consultant My favourite athlete is ... I don’t have a My favourite athlete is ... David Gillick real favourite at the moment but I hope that The events I’m most looking forward all athletes give their best and achieve good to are ... sprints and relays results, especially the ones from Hungary My favourite thing about Barcelona is The events I’m most looking forward ... sampling some of the well renowned to are ... the fi nals of the 100m in both party venues throughout the city genders and the men’s Javelin throw My favourite things about Barcelona are ... the football club of the city and the beaches

10 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK STAFF e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y

Hello, my name is ... James Mulligan Hello, my name is ... Christelle Bezençon Hello, my name is … Maaike Mayor I’m from ... England I’m from ... Switzerland I’m from … Switzerland and the My job is ... Communication Manager My job is ... Event Consultant Netherlands My favourite athlete is ... Phillips My favourite athlete is ... Yelena My job is … Administrative Coordinator Idowu Isinbayeva My favourite athlete is … Karoline The events I’m most looking forward The event I’m most looking forward Bjerkli Grøvdal to are ... the relays. to is ... the Pole Vault The event I’m most looking forward My favourite things about Barcelona My favourite things about Barcelona to is … the Long Jump are ... the beach parties and watching are ... the famous tapas, Parc Güell and My favourite things about Barcelona Barcelona FC! the nice weather! are … Parc Güell, La Rambla and nice food

Hello, my name is ... Jérôme Parmentier Hello, my name is ... Aditya Kumar Hello, my name is … Bernadette Brun I’m from ... France I’m from ... India Brenger My job is ... Event Manager My job is ... Communication Consultant I’m from … France My favourite athletes are ... the My favourite athletes are ... Ariane My job is … Senior Event Consultant decathletes and heptathletes Friedrich and Tomasz Majewski My favourite athlete is … Carolina Klüft The events I’m most looking forward The events I’m most looking forward The events I’m most looking forward to are ... the 100m/110m hurdles to are ... High Jump and to are … the relays My favourite things about Barcelona My favourite things about Barcelona My favourite thing about Barcelona is are ... the food, the weather and running are ... Gaudi and the vibrancy of the city … the way of life along the beach!

Hello, my name is ... Bill Glad Hello, my name is ... Sandrine Glacier I’m from ... USA I’m from ... France My job is ... Development Manager My job is ... Competition Consultant My favourite athlete is ... no one in My favourite athlete is ... Romain particular Mesnil The events I’m most looking forward The event I’m most looking forward to are ... all of them to is ... Pole Vault My favourite thing about Barcelona is My favourite things about Barcelona ... B10! are ... Lionel Messi, beaches and tapas.

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 11 Your Sport for Life HELSINKI 2012 HHELSINKIELSINKI 22012012 – LLETET TTHEHE NEWNEW TTRADIRADITION BEGIN

Helsinki, one of only four cities in the of the Local Organising Committee for Mr. Esa Honkalehto, General Secretary of world to have hosted the Olympic Games, Helsinki 2012 and also a member of the the Helsinki 2012 LOC, underlined that the IAAF Championships European Athletics Council. the European Athletics Championships and European Athletics Championships, will add value to the Olympic Games. is up for a new challenge in 2012. The The organisers strongly believe that the legendary Helsinki Olympic Stadium will athletics scene on the continent is now “During ordinary seasons all the best be at the heart of the launch of a new going through a decisive moment. European athletes are prepared to compete tradition as it hosts the inaugural Olympic in European Team Championships in late year European Athletics Championships. “Based on the distribution of medals at the June. In 2012, there will be no European Olympic Games and World Championships, Team Championships and just the “Once again it is for Helsinki to offer one can see that European athletics has European Athletics Championships, so it something unique to athletics. We been going through a period of decline won’t cause extra stress for the athletes. hosted the fi rst edition of IAAF World the last decade. European countries share Championships in 1983, and installed a common responsibility of developing “Furthermore, only the very best European a brand new event presentation system our sport through the new format of athletes will qualify for the Olympics. For during the 10th IAAF World Athletics European Athletics Championships,” said the rest, Helsinki 2012 will be the most Championships in 2005. Now we are Pihlakoski. important competition of the season. And working hard to create a fresh, modern for the Olympic qualifi ers, what would be and fascinating start for the new format “It is crucial for athletics in Europe that a better way to fi nd peak form than having of European Athletics Championships in all the European countries send their best a quality international competition before 2012,” said Antti Pihlakoski, the president athletes to Helsinki,” he added. the Olympic Games,” said Honkalehto.

12 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK HELSINKI 2012 e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y

LET THE NEW TRADITIONTION BEGINBEGIN

Finnish athletics heritage event for everyone interested in athletics,” event presentation system that together he said. with the facilities at the renovated Olympic Athletics is one of the most traditional and popular sports in Stadium will offer perfect surroundings for Finland. It is the biggest individual sport in the country and in the “This is how we get people from all walks relishing athletics,” Pihlakoski promised. top three among all sports. The fi nal of the men’s Javelin throw of life involved in the European Athletics in major championships is regularly one of the most watched TV Championships.” Pihlakoski fi rmly believes that Finland programs of the year, gathering an unbelievable 40-50% of Finns will host a world-class event and an in front of TV screens. unforgettable athletics festival. An unforgettable experience “During the last 50 years we have hosted fi ve major athletics for athletes and fans “We will do our job with quality, style and championships at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, and every time great passion for athletics. We are ready the tickets have been sold out. Finnish people love athletics and The championships will offer a unique to start a new tradition that will be on there are no two words about it,” said Pihlakoski. experience for the participating athletes par with the best sporting events in the and fans in the tribunes of the Olympic world. This is a golden opportunity for all To strengthen the popularity of athletics, the LOC plans to Stadium. European nations to put athletics back to organise a multi-dimensional athletics festival on the sidelines of the place where it belongs – in the hearts the European Athletics Championships. “We will offer short commuting distances, and minds of the people of Europe,” said clean and safe environment, and punctual Pihlakoski. “We are planning to organise an international youth event that organisation that will accord highest will encompass both competitions and education. In addition it priority to ensuring comfort for athletes. By Mika Noronen will have competitions for disabled athletes, and a mass sport For fans we have developed a high quality

HELSINKI FACTS

European Athletics Championships 27.6.2012– One of the most followed sporting Added value for Finland: 1.7.2012 at Helsinki Olympic Stadium event in Europe approximately €30m Televised in 40-50 countries Approx €10m income through taxes New concept of 5 competition days including 4 approx. 300 million TV viewers (news for Finland and the city of Helsinki exciting evening sessions with fi nals excluded) Added employment opportunities for 50 countries participating Around 1,800 media representatives the inhabitants of Helsinki region Around 1,500 athletes from 45-50 countries 160,000 spectators 1,000 volunteers

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 13 Your Sport for Life ECH 2014 AND BEYOND

A toast to Zurich’s successful bid for the 2014 European Athletics Championships Long-term planning paving way for successful future events

Zurich became the fi rst city The process generated strong interest among Member The timelines for the different stages Federations in hosting European Athletics’ fl agship events up to of the bidding process have now been to get the rights to host and including 2018. formalised and communicated, providing the bidding cities with enough time the European Athletics The Member Federations were requested to submit their plans and support to deliver comprehensive for the hosting of events over an eight-year period with the goal applications. Championships in 2014 under of allowing them to think well in advance for hosting European Athletics events. The fi rst restructured seminar took place European Athletics’ new at the end of 2009, when the city of “I am very pleased that the vast majority of our Member Zurich took its fi rst steps in preparing long-term planning system for Federations supported this endeavour by informing us of their its bid for the 2014 championships that future bidding intentions,” said European Athletics President proved successful at the end of the event allocation introduced in Hansjörg Wirz. “This long-term planning allows European bidding process in May 2010. Athletics and potential candidates a clear vision of the allocation 2009. of future events, while ensuring that facilities within Europe are Given the eight-year scope of the used in a proper way and benefi tting public bodies that have questionnaire, an exclusive candidature fi nanced the facilities.” preparation day has been planned during the 2010 European Athletics This way European Athletics is also able to give orientation Championships in Barcelona for Member among interested parties and react well in advance if there Federations that have indicated an are no serious and qualifi ed potential candidates interested in interest in hosting the European Athletics hosting a particular event – avoiding the disappointment and Championships of 2016 and 2018 and frustration of Member Federations and cities who may not be the 2015 and 2017 European Athletics successful in bidding for a certain event. Indoor Championships. This will give a unique insight into the organisation and The European Athletics Bidding Manual for events has also been delivery of these major championships. updated to provide a more comprehensive document to assist Member Federations in their applications, and in addition the For more information regarding the long- concept of the bidding seminars that Member Federations must term planning for events, please contact attend as part of the regulations for top events was changed European Athletics Projects Consultant to make it more of a promotional tool to gain support of the Peter Stafford at: cities. [email protected]

14 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK EVENT REVIEW e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y

Russia and European Athletics were the big winners at the second edition of the SPAR European Team Championships. Russia returns to number one

Russia emphatically won the 2010 SPAR European Team Russia won 13 events out of the 40 sixth event on Saturday. They were never Championships with a huge score of 379.5 points across the two contested in Bergen but another crucial headed for the rest of the weekend. days in Bergen, Norway, winning by a massive margin of 62.5 factor in their success was the all round points. consistence of the squad with top three The avalanche of victories started when fi nishes in 25 disciplines. Russian team captain and former Pole In the world’s premier athletics competition between countries, Vault world record holder Svetlana Russia consequently came out top of the rankings which The Russian women were particularly big Feofanova won her specialist event with embraces all 50 of European Athletics’ Member Federations and contributors of points with only three 4.65m and Yelena Zadorozhnaya quickly were crowned as Europe’s top athletics nation. athletes failing to get on the podium followed in her footsteps with maximum points in the women’s 3000m. “The unpredictability of a team’s performance, the national pride Great Britain fi nished second with 317 felt and shown as countries compete against their rivals, and the points while the 2009 champions Germany, Alexandr Shustov and Pavel Shulin took drama of the revamped regulations made for compelling viewing after a poor fi rst day when they languished the men’s High Jump and Long Jump throughout the weekend,” said European Athletics President back in seventh place, rallied on the Sunday respectively – the latter jumping a wind- Hansjörg Wirz, refl ecting on the innovative competition that to fi nish third with 304.5 points. assisted 8.26m – Kseniya Ustalova and has men and women competing as one team, promotion and Nataliya Antyukh won the women’s 400m relegation battles between the four leagues, and a table that Russia made an early start in their bid for and 400m hurdles, while Yuliya Zarudneva ranks countries from fi rst to 50th. supremacy and took the lead after just the produced a brilliant solo gun-to-tape

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 15 Your Sport for Life EVENT REVIEW

effort to take the honours in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.

Russia’s women’s 4x100m team, the 2008 Olympic Games gold medallists, then took fi rst place in the penultimate event of the fi rst day, winning in a European-leading 42.98.

Building on their eight victories on Saturday, Russia added another fi ve wins on the second day.

The 2004 Olympic Games 800m gold medallist Yuriy Borzakovskiy had delayed his 2010 outdoor debut over two laps of the track until he arrived in Bergen but produced a confi dent victory in 1:45.41.

Barely had people had time to draw breath after Borzakovskiy’s audacious run from the front before Tatyana Dektyareva went to her marks for the next event of the track and sped to a European-leading 100m hurdles time of 12.68.

Anna Avdeyeva later won the Shot Put to add another 12 points to the Russian total before their 4x400m Relay teams fi nished off the weekend in fi ne style.

The women’s 4x400m relay team delivered the expected victory in the penultimate event of the championships. With Antyukh and Ustalova on the last two legs, a win was highly likely but the quartet still showed their class by clocking a world- leading 3:23.76

Inspired by their women’s performance, the men’s 4x400m team brought the curtain down at the championships in impressive fashion by winning in 3:01.72.

Among the other highlights over the weekend was Dwain Chambers’ 100m in 9.99, the Briton blasting his way down the track at Fana Stadium to become the fi rst European under the 10-second barrier this year. His opening jump of 17.26m, a personal and European champion’s fi rst defeat of the season. There was another European-leading mark best by three centimetres, was enough in the women’s 200m when Ukrainian to leave Great Britain’s Phillips Idowu and Greece, Norway and Finland occupied the last three places in sprinter Yelizaveta Bryzhina produced a France’s in-form Teddy Tamgho, the current Bergen and were relegated. The trio will compete in the First stunning burst of acceleration off the bend outdoor and indoor world champions League next year and will be replaced by the promoted Czech to win in a new personal best of 22.71. respectively, trailing in his wake. Republic, Sweden and Portugal, who all bounce straight back after dropping down a division 12 months ago. Dramatic upsets were on the agenda as Germany’s Mattias De Zordo also upset well. the form book in the Javelin, throwing European athletics fans will also have a trip to Scandinavia in their 83.80m to leave the host’s hero Andreas diaries’ sights again in 12 months time as the Swedish capital Perhaps the biggest surprise was delivered Thorkildsen, still recovering from a slight will be the venue for the 2011 SPAR European Team when the Ukraine’s Viktor Kuznetsov groin problem, having to settle for second Championships. pulled off a shock win in the Triple Jump. place. It was the current Olympic, world

16 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1/10 INSIDE TRACK SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y European Athletics and B10 take responsibilities seriously

European Athletics and the B10 organising committee are committed to doing their bit to make our sport sustainable and reduce its impact on the environment.

B10 used the European Athletics B10, whose initiatives will help change awareness of sustainability European Athletics Director General Sustainable Sports Event Toolkit in sports events in Spain, will upload its experiences and Christian Milz said, “It’s been gratifying (SSET) – an online “how to” guide for recommendations for future organisers on the SSET website. to see how many events have already organisers – to identify ways of reducing expressed an interest in the SSET, which the environmental impact of the 20th European Athletics launched the SSET in 2009. It was co- we are making available to our partners European Athletics Championships. developed with the International Academy of Sports Science and free of charge.” Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland, the International Olympic Sustainability initiatives at the European Committee and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Organising “I believe that in the coming years the SSET Athletics Championships in Barcelona Committee. will help to make athletics events across include a “no paper policy” in the VIP Europe more sustainable thereby adding area. Following suggestions from guests More than 14 athletics events across Europe have used or to the already strong positive image our at previous events, no printed copies of are planning on using the tool, including the 2011 European sport enjoys with the public”. start lists, results and other information Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris and Athletissima, the will be distributed in the VIP area, thereby IAAF meeting in Lausanne. saving thousands of sheets of paper and reducing waste.

There will be extra CIS (Commentator Information Systems) throughout the VIP area so that guests are still able to get the SSET shortlisted for 2010 Beyond up-to-date information they need to fully European Athletics green Sport Award enjoy the competition. logo marks Earth Day 2010 The SSET project has been named as a All start lists, results and other information fi nalist in the Sport for the Environment will be delivered quickly and effi ciently to European Athletics launched a new “green” logo in April to category for the prestigious 2010 journalists in the main press centre and refl ect its commitment to environmental responsibility and Beyond Sport Awards, which will be media tribune – but only on request so as sustainability. presented in Chicago, USA, 27-30 to further reduce paper waste. September. The launch coincided with “Earth Day 2010”, which is Another initiative will be the sale of celebrated in more than 175 countries around the world to raise Beyond Sport is a global organisation reusable biodegradable cups with a B10 awareness and appreciation for the earth’s environment. that promotes the use of sport to design at public bars and the market drive positive social change across square. The cups will also be available in The classic European Athletics logo with the signature slogan the world. Shortlisted projects for the the VIP area, and guests can drop the cups “Your Sport for Life” in the colour green has been designed to awards were chosen from more than in the recycle containers after use. create a consistent brand identity for sustainability initiatives 350 entries spanning 115 countries. developed by the continental governing body. Barcelona 2010 will also offer rubbish The SSET helps sport organisations separation bins and stadium waste will also “This logo underlines our green values and highlights the develop practical strategies and be recycled. Roof water from the stadium sustainability initiative we introduced last year,” said European manage their environmental, social and will be used to water the grass. Flyers Athletics Director General Christian Milz. economic impacts and opportunities. and promotion material for the event are being printed on recyclable paper. “Through our commitment and leadership in this and other areas such as health, fi tness, education and personal development, our sport can add to the quality of life for millions across Europe”.

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 17 Your Sport for Life YOUNG LEADERS FORUM & ONLINE COMMUNITY Looking for the futu

The European Athletics- UNESCO Young Leaders Forum will give young volunteers a taste of the European Athletics Championships and a chance to help shape how the sport engages youth in the digital age.

It has become a tradition for great sports events, including the Olympic Games, to organise camps for young people alongside their competition programmes. The 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona will Gabriella Szabo take this concept to a new dimension.

The European Athletics-UNESCO Young In addition to the contributions of the organising partners, “We see this forum as a key element of Leaders Forum from 26-29 July will see the forum has been given fi nancial support by the marketing European Athletics’ ‘Your Sport for Life’ 100 volunteers aged 18-26 selected by agencies ECM2 and Dentsu. strategy,” says Director General Christian the Member Federations enjoy the unique Milz. “It is a chance to promote dialogue, atmosphere of the championships in the enhance the personal development of the evenings after spending the day-time participants and fi nd out what they want hours working hard to develop their skills from athletics.” and fi nd ways for athletics to maintain and increase its relevance for young To check out the European Athletics Young Leaders “Importantly, we will be working people across Europe. Community visit www.athleticscommunity.org. together with them to create an ongoing community of young leaders that will Organised by European help us deliver the values and practical Athletics, the B10 benefi ts we can bring to society in areas Organising Committee and such as education, health and physical UNESCO (United Nations fi tness.” Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organization), the The forum, which takes place at the Instiut forum is a follow-up to the Nacional d’Educació Fisica de Catalunya successful European Youth (INEFC) just a few hundred metres from Forum that was staged the Olympic Stadium on Barcelona’s in conjunction with the Montjuic, will feature a line-up of big name 2006 European Athletics speakers from athletics, including Olympic Championships in Göteborg. gold medallists Gabriella Szabo, Sergey It is also another milestone in Bubka and Sebastian Coe and world and the deepening relationship European champion Steve Cram, who are between European Athletics expected to talk about the values for sport, and UNESCO. leadership and personal development.

18 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK YOUNG LEADERS FORUM & ONLINE COMMUNITY e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y

UNESCO and European ure leaders Athletics The United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is the lead agency for sport and physical education in the United Nations system. In 2006 it signed a unique Memorandum of Understanding with European Athletics to cooperate on joint projects.

The memorandum recognised the importance of athletics as a participation sport and for its role in physical education and for its potential to contribute to the well-being of young people. UNESCO also recognises that sport – and athletics in particular - can provide an effective communication platform for raising public awareness about education and other issues.

Throughout the relationship UNESCO has enjoyed valuable visible presence at all major European Athletics events, which has helped it to promote its messages to the public. The two organisations have also cooperated on the following projects:

2006: European Youth Forum, Göteborg, SWE 2007: Promotion of the ratifi cation of the UN Convention on Doping In Sport 2007: Young Athlete Anti-Doping Education, Hengelo, NED, and Debrecen, HUN 2009: Young Athlete Anti-Doping Education, Novi Sad, SRB, and Kaunas, LTU 2010: European Athletics-UNESCO Young Leaders Forum, Barcelona, ESP Sergey Bubka

There will also be workshops that focus on the newly launched European Athletics Young Leaders Community, a social network website that promotes athletics-oriented community projects.

“The participants will get a chance to shape the community and develop some IT-based tools for volunteering, improving their skills and CVs and getting more out of athletics,” says Milz. “It’s an exciting project that will open up a new way for the sport to engage with young people and form life-long relationships.”

Prior to their arrival in Barcelona, the participants contributed to four weekly online discussions, moderated by UNESCO staff, on the topics to be raised in the forum. They also prepared displays about athletics in their countries, which will be exhibited in the INEFC during the forum, and some have even produced videos about their work in the sport.

For more information on the European Athletics-UNESCO Young Leaders Forum visit www.european-athletics.org.

Sebastian Coe

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 19 Your Sport for Life DEVELOPMENT

EU athletics projects making progress

The three European Union projects in sport in which European Athletics is a key partner are well underway, with kick-off meetings having been held for each of them and partnerships agreed with the involved Member Federations.

The French athletics federation, leader of The EU Offi ce of the European Olympic the Athle Santé project for the promotion Committee, meanwhile, is working with Details of the approved projects are as follows: of health enhancing physical activity, is sports organisations, athletes, businesses currently working in four main areas: and educational institutions to develop Project Leader: Fédération Française d’Athlétisme creating a teaching plan for coaches information on best practice for preparing Field of Action: Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical about working in the general fi tness athletes for their career post-athletics Activity fi eld, training a new group of coaches by promoting the concept of “dual Partners: European Athletics and fi ve Member Federations specifi cally focused on the health and careers” through the Athletes2Business EU Grant: €230,000 fi tness market, developing a series of project. They are creating a network and health circuits with local authorities and database of best practice and working Project Leader: Royal Dutch Athletics Federation (Atletikunie) federations, and organising information on improving access for athletes to the Field of Action: Promotion of Gender Equality in Sport days about health and fi tness. labour market. The EOC has arranged Partners: European Athletics and eight Member Federations study visits and workshops for athletes EU Grant: €215,486 The FFA is working with counterparts around Europe that will continue till the in Italy, France, Spain, Germany and end of the year as part of its promotion Project Leader: EU Offfi ce of the European Olympic Hungary on these topics. of education and training in sport. Committees Field of Action: Promotion of Education and Training in Sport As part of its ‘Bridging the Leadership European Athletics’ partnership with Partners: European Athletics and ten organisations from Gender Gap in European Athletics’ project, these EU funded projects follows the outside athletics the Royal Dutch Athletics Federation is European Commissions’ fi rst-ever call for EU Grant: €201,102 planning to conduct a global survey of project proposals in the fi eld of sport. the athletics population in October and The projects were among just 18 selected has scheduled a special training seminar from a total of 207 proposals and are for up to 50 future women’s leaders in receiving more than €645,000 euros in Evian, France, through 4-9 October. fi nancial support.

Nine countries so far are included in the Reports on the progress of the projects, survey plan. Other European Athletics which must be completed by early 2011, Member Federations that want their will be featured on the European Athletics country to be included in the survey website. should contact Development Manager Bill Glad at: [email protected].

20 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK THOUGHT LEADERSHIP e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y

European Athletics building Premium and Classic Meetings brand

This year has seen major changes in the structure of elite athletics meetings, both in Europe and worldwide, thanks to the launch of the IAAF Diamond League. Europe has a central role as 10 of the 14 Diamond League meetings in 2010 are being held on the continent.

The creation of the Diamond League has “This is a philosophy that we had developed at the European Premium and Classic Meeting organisers. also brought with it greater responsibilities Athletics Convention in Amsterdam two years ago. Now we have “This is very important as we can show and opportunities for the continental to work hard to develop and integrate what I call the ‘pyramid’, how the meetings can be more attractive federations to develop and enhance that is with the Diamond League at the top, then the IAAF World to TV viewers and local spectators, and their own series of top level one-day Challenge meetings, then the European Athletics Premium and how we can increase the overall quality of meetings. European Athletics has been Classic Meetings. the presentation. a historic leader in this respect and has “We are trying to have the same rules as the IAAF events, although “The themes will include how you can given recognition to meetings for more obviously we can’t be the same as them in terms of prize money, integrate the meeting programme with than a decade, with other continental but having the same kind of rationale with the spread of the the TV broadcast and we also insist that federations following their example in events will provide opportunities for many European athletes that meetings are no longer than two hours. more recent times. they didn’t have before. It’s no longer useful to have meetings “In the past, if you were a 100m or 1500m runner, you had that are three or four hours long because In 2006, to provide greater recognition quite a lot of opportunities to compete. It wasn’t the same if European Athletics meetings are fi ghting and visibility, the leading European you competed in, let’s say, the women’s 3000m steeplechase with other sports and other spectacles Athletics meetings were given the status or the men’s Discus. Now, with the new system that has been for the attention of the TV viewer, who of Premium Meetings with the second tier adopted by the IAAF and European Athletics meetings, we are has many options that were not there a originally being named Permit Meetings offering more possibilities to Europe’s leading athletes in every decade ago. before being re-branded last year as discipline.” “Thirdly, we want to have many more Classic Meetings. The 2010 calendar De Carlos also took a look into his crystal ball and outlined European athletes competing in European consists of 11 European Athletics Outdoor European Athletics’ broad strategy for one-day meetings in the Athletics meetings. Premium Meetings and 16 European immediate future. “The rules are now very clear about Athletics Outdoor Classic Meetings. “Our main goal was to create a coherent system and structure this. In each event, no more than three and to have the top athletes competing at these meetings on a athletes from any individual countries can José Luis de Carlos (pictured), European regular basis. compete. This ensures that, for instance, Athletics fi rst vice-president, has been “Our target now has to be to build up the quality of the individual there are not 10 runners from Kenya in a instrumental in helping defi ne how the meetings themselves. There are many things that we have to try 5000m race. Combined with this rule is Premium Meetings and Classic Meetings to do simultaneously but there are three key points that European another one which states the minimum fi t into the new global one-day meeting Athletics is looking at for the future. number of countries from Europe which structure. The Spaniard, who is also “We have to try to provide fi nancial support for the meetings, have to be present. general director of his country’s athletics so we are looking for sponsors. I have to be honest and say that “In the past there has been a perception federation, offered his thoughts recently we have been unlucky that the European-wide economic crisis that athletes from outside Europe were on what still needs to be done to enhance has happened at a time when we believe that we are getting the steadily increasing at European Athletics the Premium and Classic Meetings brand right structure for the European Athletics one-day meetings. meetings and this, in turn, restricted even further. “It has been diffi cult to get sponsorship for the Premium and opportunities for European athletes. We Classic Meetings and this is the next challenge. This is an want to reverse this trend,” explained De “I’m pleased to see that the IAAF Diamond important way in which we can enhance the image and brand of Carlos. League has the same orientation that European Athletics and support the meetings. De Carlos is quietly confi dent that in three we have decided upon for the European “Secondly, we also have to improve event presentation and get to fi ve years European Athletics will have Athletics meetings, the way that 50 meeting organisers thinking hard about this issue, which is why a one-day meeting structure in place that per cent of the main championship we have planned the fi rst European Athletics seminar for event athletes, offi cials and fans alike will be programme should be at each meeting so presentation (this was scheduled for 24-25 April in Brussels and able to say has gone from being good to that there is no overlap between events is now rescheduled for later this year because of the European great. and meetings. airspace closures following the volcanic eruption in Iceland). We will have experts in this fi eld there and bring together many of the

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 21 Your Sport for Life DIRECTOR GENERAL’S STATE OF SPORT

Making athletics ‘Your Sport for Life’ for future generations

“Without youth, the rest of athletics In his conference introduction in Norway, Federations, federation chiefs and young leaders involved in is meaningless. We, in Europe, need European Athletics President Hansjörg athletics. We have been encouraged by the quality of their input to develop a coherent, co-ordinated Wirz presented an overview of European and by the enthusiasm of them in facing the challenge of bringing and global strategic approach to youth Athletics’ strategy to use the values of more and more young people into athletics and retaining them. development.” athletics to engage young people and other target groups in the sport under our We have used this valuable information to help shape our youth Those were the words of Lord Sebastian slogan ‘Your Sport for Life’. strategy and a priority in 2010 is the implementation of this. Coe in his keynote address at the fi rst Indeed, we have formed a youth strategy working group to European Athletics Youth Conference This was a signifi cant fi rst step for facilitate this. in December 2008. Back then, in Oslo, European Athletics in taking a leading more than 130 representatives from 46 role within the sport in creating a unifi ed Lord Coe has been a strong advocate of taking note of changes in European countries and fi ve countries approach towards young people. youth culture and engaging and integrating the next generation outside of Europe discussed youth athletics of athletics followers through the use of modern communication and ways the sport can attract and retain What needs to be addressed is how to tools such as new media. young people. engage and retain school boys and girls, students and amateur athletes, and how The European Athletics-UNESCO Young Leaders Forum in The conference, entitled ‘Bringing to convince parents that athletics is the Barcelona during the European Athletics Championships is one Athletics to New Generations,’ drew the sport for their kids. such initiative that will help us shape how our sport engages youth largest number of participants ever for a in the digital age. European Athletics educational activity. In During and since the inaugural conference, addition to the Europeans present, there European Athletics has listened to the This forum is a key element of European Athletics’ ‘Your Sport were also participants from Jamaica, New ideas of a lot of young coaches, youth for Life’ strategy – a chance to promote dialogue, enhance the Zealand, Singapore, Brazil and Surinam. programme managers at Member personal development of the 100 participants from all over

22 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK DIRECTOR GENERAL’S STATE OF SPORT e f i L r o f t r o p S r u o Y

Europe and fi nd out what they want from on multiple platforms so that a younger extremely important developmental steps in young athletes’ athletics. generation used to being able to choose careers. The next editions in 2011 are in Tallinn, Estonia, and how and when they engage with sport Ostrava, Czech Republic, respectively. One of the legacies of the forum will be has the opportunity to do so. an ongoing community of young leaders We continue to innovate. Our competition structure is under that will help us deliver the values and European Athletics is also looking at review as part of our youth strategy working group. A survey practical benefi ts we can bring to society forward-thinking events to increase the has been sent out to Member Federations to evaluate the current in areas such as education, health and appeal of athletics, not only to different international competition structure for athletes under 18, to physical fi tness. groups of youngsters but also different consider changes to the European Athletics programme to add social and professional groups. We value in terms of athlete development and to determine the There will be workshops in Barcelona that are beginning a feasibility study for a best way for Member Federations to work within the adopted focus on the newly launched European European Athletics Relay Festival, similar system. The European Youth Olympic Trials in in May Athletics Young Leaders Community to the supremely successful Penn Relays 2010 will also be considered within this analysis alongside our (www.athleticscommunity.org), a social in Philadelphia. It would be fantastic to other events. network website that promotes athletics- see an equivalent event in Europe, with oriented community projects. hundreds of relays involving thousands Innovation in our existing events and also exciting new events are of athletes watched by fans packing out important, of course, but this must be backed up with a strong Furthermore, we continue to increase a stadium. youth strategy – one that includes the engagement of youth of our presence on social networking sites Europe in ways they understand and can relate to – in order that such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. We of course have our European Athletics we are able to bring athletics to new generations. Indeed, we We want to make sure information on Junior Championships and European continue to work hard towards our mission of making athletics our events and our activities is available Athletics U23 Championships – both “Your Sport for Life.”

INSIDE TRACK 1|10 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 23 Your Sport for Life 2010 AWARDS NIGHT

Time to honour the best of European athletics

After the curtain falls on the European Athletics Championships Barcelona 2010 on 1 August, it will soon be time to honour the best of European athletics at the European Athletics Awards Night presented by MONDO during the European Athletics Convention in mid-October. This time around it is hosted in , Serbia.

Every year during this prestigious gala lists for the athlete awards will be compiled Idowu of Great Britain and world 3000m night, a number of awards are presented by selecting the top European athlete in steeplechase champion Marta Domínguez to reward the best of European athletics: each event, based largely on performances of Spain emerged as Europe’s fi nest at the European Athletics Championships athletes of the year. The European Athlete of the Year in Barcelona along with a number of other (men/women) European Athletics and IAAF events. The great honour of being named the The European Athletics Rising Star winners of the European Athletics Rising of the Year (men/women) The winners of the European Athlete of Star Awards fell to French sprint sensation The European Athletics Women’s the Year will be decided by votes from the Christophe Lemaître and Norway’s middle- Leadership Awards (every two general public, media, European Athletics distance prodigy Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal. years) Member Federations and an expert panel, These awards recognised their spectacular The European Athletics Innovation with the results from each group of voters performances throughout 2009. Awards (every two years) counting for one quarter of the athlete’s fi nal score. Each voter must select their fi ve All four winners were presented with their European Athletics will shortlist the preferred athletes and rank them in order awards by European Athletics President nominations for all the categories of priority. Hansjörg Wirz at a special European mentioned above (this year will be the Athletics Awards Night presented by turn of the Innovation Awards after the After thousands of votes were cast in MONDO, organised during the European Women’s Leadership Awards in 2009). The 2009, Triple Jump world champion Phillips Athletics Convention in Budapest, Hungary.

24 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|10 INSIDE TRACK