Your Sport for Life

Newsletter of European Athletics 1 | 09 June INSIDE TRACK Let the European Team Championships begin!

2 WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT 9 European Athletics Indoor European Athletics leads way in making Championships necessary changes 11 Inside Track 4 European Team Championships Specific Competition Regulations 17 Federation Focus The A-Z of the SPAR European Team Championships 19 Thought Leadership

8 EducatioN 22 Preview Innovation Award European Athletics Convention Your Sport for Life Word from the President

IMPRESSUM European Athletics leads way in making necessary changes European Athletics Association Européenne d’Athlétisme

President: Hansjörg Wirz SUI Vice Presidents: Hansjörg Wirz | President, European Athletics Jose Luis de Carlos ESP, Svein Arne Hansen NOR Treasurer: Karel Pilny CZE Director General: Christian Milz SUI European Athletics, like any organisation, has not been immune to Office: Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 18 the storm that has ravaged the world’s CH-1003 Lausanne financial markets over the past months Switzerland but we are in a good situation to navigate Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 50 our way through the rocky waters that Fax +41 (0)21 313 43 51 [email protected] may persist for some time yet. www.european-athletics.org We are fortunate to have such strong “Inside Track” is published by partnerships in place, with the European European Athletics Broadcasting Union till 2011 and also Co-ordination: with SPAR, and we are in constant Pierce O’Callaghan IRL dialogue with these partners. And as Aditya Kumar IND was reported at the European Athletics European Athletics Communication Department Congress in Lausanne in April, we are Phone +41 (0)21 313 4360 also in the healthy position of being able [email protected] to draw on financial reserves if needed.

Text, Photos: The economic crisis of course makes it and event toolkit (SSET) that can be Aditya Kumar IND, “The economic crisis of course DPA, Bill Glad GBR, Andy more important than ever for organizers used by organisers. makes it more important than Heading GBR, Christiane to host events that are financially viable. Maillard SUI, Christian Milz Indeed, one way of making sure events Society as a whole is calling for us – and ever for organizers to host events SUI, Phil Minshull GBR, Pierce are cost efficient is by making them more others – to adapt our practices and move that are financially viable. Indeed, O’Callaghan IRL, Ken Van environmentally sound and sustainable. in this direction of being responsible, Deyck BEL, Hansjörg Wirz SUI, Bill Glad GBR, James Mulligan ethical and sustainable, and we are one way of making sure events are GBR, Ed Warner GBR, Carlos We recently demonstrated our more than happy to do so. We are acutely cost efficient is by making them Martin ESP, Ede Rutkovszky continued commitment to achieving aware of how important it is to care for HUN, Michael Butcher GBR these goals with the announcement of the environment. more environmentally sound and our forward-thinking partnership with Design, Production: sustainable.” AMK Atelier für Marketing the International Academy of Sports Another positive step in the right und Kommunikation Science and Technology (AISTS) in the direction European Athletics has been Amstutzstrasse 14 development of online sustainable sport making is in the long-term planning of events, something that is vitally important CH-6010 Kriens, Switzerland to us and our Member Federations. Phone +41 (0)41 320 00 72 Fax +41 (0)41 320 00 79 [email protected] It is a wholly more efficient way of doing things for many reasons – not least to Print: ensure existing facilities are used, thus Multicolor Print AG CH-6340 Baar, Switzerland negating the need for huge expenditure on the part of the organizers. It will ensure improved orientation for all parties concerned with the hosting of the event, as well as helping us maintain a geographical balance of where events take place.

One event we are already making plans for is the 2012 European Athletics Championships – the first time we will have our flagship championships follow a two-year cycle. It is clear that changing the cycle from four years to two years is absolutely needed to increase the European

2 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK Word from the President e Lif r fo t Spor our Y

European Athletics leads way in making necessary changes

Athletics Championships’ visibility and “One event we are already making plans for is the 2012 attractiveness and ensure it remains at the forefront of people’s minds. European Athletics Championships – the first time we will have our flagship championships Of course, this will mean it will take place during the Olympic year but we have follow a two-year cycle.” found two places and a time where we can make it happen. The two host candidates – Finland and Germany – are in negotiations with us and we will come to a decision soon after further discussions.

Our decision to switch the European Championships cycle shows we are not afraid to make groundbreaking decisions for the good of our sport. The same leadership is shown with our revamp of the one-day meeting system in Europe. We have made a number of decisions and agreed in principle on the key points of the whole system.

We are now integrating our stakeholders into the system and then we will prepare the final regulations. We must, however, see how we can realize the values of linking the levels of competition at world and European level. It is an exciting initiative that is moving towards being realized in time for the 2010 season.

One equally attractive initiative that heralds an exciting new era in our sport is now about to become reality at the SPAR Indeed, I am certain these changes will These future generations of star athletes European Team Championships. The make athletics even more exciting and competing are part of the “lifeblood” of question we faced with its predecessor, the dramatic for spectators in the stadium and our sport. It is our target in the upcoming SPAR European Cup was, “how could we TV viewers without affecting the purity of years to continue to focus our resources to make the competition more attractive?” our sport. And with this, we are showing further develop our education programme Our answer has been to create a new event once again our leadership in adapting our and implement activities in the fields that revamps traditional sport to make sure it keeps its appeal for of youth and health, to ensure not only regulations, has men and women compete spectators, TV viewers, media and athletes that European youngsters continue to as one team, introduces promotion and now and in the future. emerge in the sport at a world level but relegation battles between the four new also to ensure thousands of others choose leagues, and introduces a European When we talk of the future, it is nothing athletics as their “Sport for Life.” “league table” that will rank teams from without the continued emergence of Nos. 1 to 50. athletes at the junior levels, and we have two important competitions in July The sheer unpredictability of a team that will showcase the best of our young performance, generation of national talent – the European Athletics U23 pride as countries do battle against their Championships in , Lithuania, and Hansjörg Wirz rivals, and the “make-or-break” drama European Athletics Junior Championships President, European Athletics that will unfurl because of the revamped in Novi Sad, Serbia. These follow on from regulations is sure to have everyone on the the IAAF World Youth Championships edge of their seats and make for compelling immediately before. viewing throughout the weekend.

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 3 Your Sport for Life European Team Championships

The SPAR European Team European Team Championships is a new and exciting competition created by European Athletics open to all 50 European Championships Member Federation nations.

The new competition promises: Specific Competition Regulations For the 4x100m and 4x400m relays the teams’ distribution per heat will be based UNPREDICTABILITY FOR ATHLETES AND TV VIEWERS 100m, 200m, 400m, 110m/100m according to the teams’ scoring standings • There are 12 teams in each of the top two divisions (Super Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, 4x100m, one hour before the scheduled time for the League and First) with even more focus on team positions and 4x400m relay event. team points than individual results. Where there are 12/14 teams competing, ONLY ONE WINNER all of the above events will be staged in The best scoring teams will compete in the • Team scores are calculated by the combination of men’s and two heats consisting of six/seven athletes/ same heat which shall be the last event of women’s points. teams in each. the session of track events. EUROPEAN RANKING OF NATIONS FROM 1 to 50 • The results will produce a European Athletics nations’ ranking The distribution of athletes per heat will be In all track events, no false start will be list from 1 to 50 – an endeavour that is the first of its kind. as follows: allowed. CLEAR COMPETITION FORMAT • There are four clearly distinct leagues within the new team For races up to and including 400m, the Any athlete committing a false start will championship series: Super League, First, Second and Third distribution of athletes/teams will be based be disqualified and the team will receive League. on the athletes’ season-best performance. no points in that particular event. DRAMATIC RELEGATION AND PROMOTION BATTLES • There will be three teams relegated from and promoted to the In cases where the athlete has no season 800m, 1500m Super League on an annual basis. best the previous year’s season best will be Where there are 8/12 teams competing, • Two teams will also be relegated in the other leagues. considered, and in cases where the athlete the 800m and 1500m will be run as EXCITING NEW RULES does not have either performance the “finals” with only one race each. • The traditional rules in the long-distance track events and field personal best will be considered. events have been modified to create more excitement and However for the 800m, the 12 athletes drama. will start on the curved line instead of the traditional eight lanes.

4 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK European Team Championships e Lif r fo t Spor our Y

Events The programme shall comprise the following 20 events for men and 20 events for women: Men Running 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 3000m steeplechase, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay Jumps High Jump, Pole Vault, , Triple Jump Throws Shot Put, , Hammer Throw, Javelin Throw

Women Running 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 3000m steeplechase, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay Jumps High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump Throws Shot Put, Discus Throw, Hammer Throw, Javelin Throw

3,000m, 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, In the 3000m, 5,000m and 3000m Discus, Hammer, Javelin steeplechase, three athletes will be There will be a maximum of four trials in eliminated in the course of each race as each event. follows: All participating athletes will have two In the 3000m and 3000m steeplechase qualification trials (first and second trial); the last athlete at five, four and three laps remaining to the finish will be eliminated. The best six athletes from the two first trials will have the right to compete in a In simple terms, this means that the last third qualification round. Conversely, this placed athlete at five laps to the finish will be also means that the lowest six athletes will required to abandon the race immediately have no further trials and will be assigned after being informed by an official. points based on their first two attempts.

The same procedure will apply for the last The best four athletes after the third positioned athlete at four laps and three qualification round will compete in the laps to the finish. Final (fourth round). Conversely this means that a further two athletes will have no For the 5000m the last athlete at seven, further attempts after the third round and five and three laps remaining to the finish will be assigned points based on their first will be eliminated. three attempts.

This means, the last positioned athlete at The remaining four athletes will then be seven laps to the finish will be required to ranked by their best performance after abandon the race immediately after being the Final (fourth round). informed by an official. The order of attempts in field events High Jump, Pole Vault The same procedure will apply for the last shall be decided by a draw conducted by In the High Jump and Pole Vault each competitor shall be entitled positioned athlete at five laps and three European Athletics. to a maximum of four aggregate fouls throughout the whole laps to the finish. competition. This means the athlete will not be allowed to The order of jumps in the final round will continue once he has made four fouls. The first athlete required to abandon the be the reverse order of the ranking after race will be given one point, the second the third round All the other relevant IAAF Rules for the vertical jumps will apply. athlete required to abandon two points and IAAF Rule 181.8 (c) will apply for ties. the third athlete to abandon three points. The time permitted for each attempt in High Jump and Pole Vault shall be one minute except when consecutive attempts are by the same athlete, in which case IAAF Rule 180.17(c) shall apply.

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 5 Your Sport for Life European Team Championships Q&A

The A-Z of the SPAR European Team Championships

Why has European athletics decided Secondly, there is a need to show the How does the relegation system between the SPAR European to change the format of the SPAR development of athletics and our capacity Team Championships Super league, First league, Second European Cup? to adapt our competition system to the League and Third League work? First and foremost, it is important to note request of TV athletes, spectators, media There are 12 teams in the Super League, 12 teams in the First that the European Team Championships and television, and also to the demands League, eight teams in the Second League and the remaining is not just a technical rule change of the of society. teams in the Third League. European Cup. It is a completely new product. Many other sports have adapted their rules The bottom three teams in the Super League will be relegated to to the new demands of today’s consumer the First League and the top three teams of the First League will The competition is open to all the Member and this is an attempt to lead the way in be promoted to the Super League. Federation nations of Europe, with the athletics. winning teams decided by a combination The bottom two teams of the First League will be relegated to the of men’s and women’s performances. How are winning teams decided? Second League and the top two teams of the Second League will The European Team Championships be promoted to the First League. The top level will consist of the best 12 comprises of one single competition teams in Europe and is named the SPAR where men and women from each nation Finally, the bottom two teams in the Second League will be European Team Championships. The First will be represented as one team. relegated to the Third League while the top two teams of the League consists of the next 12 teams in Third League will be promoted to the Second League. Europe, the Second League the next eight The winner of individual events and the teams and the Third League consists of all relays in each league will score as many Why are athletes in 3,000m, 3,000m steeplechase and the remaining teams. points as there are teams competing, the 5,000m, being eliminated? second will score one fewer, and so on. Traditionally in these longer events, athletes have tended to race The aim of this new product is to create a tactically in the early stages with a dramatic to the line. more attractive event for spectators in the For example, in the Super League, 12 teams From a television point of view, this has resulted in the early laps stadium and TV viewers at home. will take part, so the winning athletes or being run at little more than a jogging pace, which has little relay teams will score 12 points, second appeal to TV audiences. The format has been adapted to the place will score 11 points and so on. demands of today by being more exciting, Taking this on board, we are hoping that with the threat of unpredictable and by putting more However, athletes or relay teams elimination, athletes will run a faster pace from the start which emphasis on the country and team as disqualified or not finishing will not score. will make better viewing for spectators both in the stadium and opposed to individual athletes. on TV.

6 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK European Team Championships Q&A e Lif r fo t Spor our Y

Of course, the eliminated athletes will still and will have 100 percent attention of all placed athlete will receive one point, the be able to contribute to their teams by spectators both in the stadium and on TV. second from last two points and so on. being awarded points. We are confident that after the athletes The two athletes who are then eliminated How will officials decide if there are and coaches see this system in operation in the third round with the lowest two or more athletes close together? it will be a big success. performance will be ranked by their The elimination decisions will be made performances after this round – that is with the assistance of the photo-finish, How will the points be distributed in the sixth-placed athlete will receive seven where necessary. the field events? points and the fifth-placed athlete eight For the Super League and First League, points. How will the athletes know they are 12 athletes will participate in each field being eliminated? event. Therefore, the six athletes who Finally, the remaining four athletes will be An official will be placed shortly after the are eliminated after the first two rounds ranked by their performances after the finish line and will show the athletes in will be ranked by their best performance fourth round. The winner will receive 12 question a baton with the country code in those two rounds. This means, the last points, the second 11 points, etc. on it and the athlete will then abandon the race.

Will the eliminated athletes score points? Yes. For example, in the 5,000m with 12 athletes, the athlete who is eliminated first will score one point; the athlete eliminated second will score two points and third three points. There will then be nine athletes still in the race and they will score as normal with the winner gaining 12 points, second 11 points and so on.

What are the advantages of this type of system? As everyone is aware, Europeans tend to dominate field events on a worldwide scale, but it has been shown in the past that field events get less than 20 percent of total TV coverage from a meeting.

The advantage of this system is, with clever timetabling, the final round of each event will be able to be shown in its entirety

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 7 Your Sport for Life Education European Athletics Doping Control Delegates Seminar – Darmstadt 2009

April 3 saw the start of the first European Athletics Doping Control Delegates seminar held in Darmstadt, Germany. Thirty- two delegates attended the seminar from all over Europe with all of them having significant experience in the field of Anti- Doping Control, either being a Doping Control Delegate in the past, or from working for their countries’ National Anti-Doping Organisation or as a Doping Control Officer, or in some cases all three! The first day of the seminar was packed full of presentations. Participants were fortunate to have many expert speakers present who freely imparted much of their knowledge and experience in their presentations. The second day started with some group discussion around various true to life scenarios and after this each group presented their solutions to the rest of the delegation. This proved to be an invaluable discussion with some good debate. The morning section was followed by an exam of various multiple choice and free text questions. The weekend was both enjoyable and informative, future DCDs benefitting from listening to expert speakers with many years experience in the field of Doping Control.

8 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK Review e Lif r fo t Spor our Y Arrivederci Torino, à bientôt à !

Two European indoor records, a host of other sparkling performances including many world-leading marks for 2009 and exuberant capacity crowds mean that this year’s European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torino will be fondly remembered for a long time.

The continent’s top performers will now have the chance draw German international hurdler Carolin a mark which had stood for a decade. breath and live on their laurels a little bit, at least until the next Nytra before he arrived in the Italian city. Only one man in history – the legendary edition of the championships, which will be staged in the French However, he stepped out of her shadow American and four-time Olympic champion capital Paris in two years time. in emphatic fashion with an astonishing , who holds the World Indoor leap of 8.71m. record with 8.79m – has gone further German long jumper Sebastian Bayer and British sprinter Dwain indoors. Chambers wrote themselves into the record books with feats that The statistics show the impact of Bayer’s have never been topped under cover by any other European. phenomenal jump. Even taking into account outdoor marks, only one European has gone further, with Bayer, 22-years-old and from the German border town of Aachen, He broke the European Indoor record of Armenia’s holding the was perhaps better known in some circles as the boyfriend of Spain’s Yago Lamela by 15 centimetres, European record of 8.86m since 1987.

Mo Farah (GBR) won the 3,000m

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 9 Your Sport for Life Review

“I am speechless, from the socks upwards,“ exclaimed Bayer after his huge jump, which metaphorically shredded the German record books. “I thought that I might be able to get 8.40m here, if I had plenty of luck,” added the current German champion indoors and out.

Bayer had gone out to 8.29m with his first attempt and that alone would have been sufficient for gold, as well as being a 12- centimetre improvement on his personal best to date. He then passed three jumps before fouling his fifth round effort. It would be fair to say nobody, not even Bayer, was expecting what would then happen with the very last Long Jump competition.

In Chambers’s case, the element of shock and surprise was a little more reserved.

He had already given notice in British competitions this winter that he was on the cusp of going into new territory, and he confirmed those predictions by running 6.42 in the 60m semi-finals on Saturday, to take three-hundredths off the European Indoor record France’s Ronald Pognon had set in 2005. He followed up that feat by capturing the gold medal on Long jumpers Sebastian Bayer and Nils Winter (GER) Sunday in 6.46.

If Bayer and Chambers were the individual in the 4x400m to become the only athlete of the three days to After not registering a valid jump for stars of the show in Torino, collectively it get two gold medals. the first four rounds, he bounded out to was a triumph for the Russian team, who 17.59m for a national indoor record, the took 18 medals – 10 of them gold – to Other new stars of the sport who made their mark in Torino best mark in the world this year, and added top the medal table in the most emphatic included Belgium’s Eline Berings and Estonia’s Ksenija Balta, three centimetres to the championship fashion since the unified team of the who took the women’s 60m hurdles and women’s Long Jump record set two years ago by Great Britain’s former Soviet Republics won 12 gold respectively in 7.92 and 6.87m, the latter being the best jump in Phillips Idowu. medals in 1992. the world this year. “Only one jump made the difference,” Russia often uses the European Athletics The origins of the pair shows the continued appeal of athletics admitted Donato. “I was aware of what Indoor Championships to blood emerging across the length and breadth of Europe, regardless of geography I was capable of here and it would talent and among those relatively new and population, further demonstrated by the fact 22 countries have been a pity if I had not fulfilled my faces who impressed were triple jumper gained a medal of one hue or another over the long weekend potential in front of my friends, family and Anastasia Taranova-Potapova, who in Torino. an Italian audience.” claimed the world-leading mark of 14.68m; 800m runner Mariya Savinova, Of course, the atmosphere in the stadium was made even more Claudio Licciardello then atoned for who covered four laps of the Oval electric by a couple of home triumphs. dashing the home crowd’s hopes that he Lingotto in a world-leading 1:58.10 and could come up with a gold medal in the 400m exponent Antonina Krivoshapka, Triple jumper put behind him a history of under- individual 400m by running a stunning who won her specialist event in 51.18 achievement in major championships to get the biggest cheer of final leg in the men’s 4x400m relay, the before leading the Russian quartet home Saturday when he claimed the first gold medal for the hosts. very last event of the championships.

10 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK Review e Lif r fo t Spor our Y

Italian Claudio Licciardello brought the stadium to its feet with a dramatic last gasp victory in the 4x400m relay

He took Italy from fifth place, when he received the baton, to victory in 3:06.68 European Athletics Indoor Championships 2009 to ensure the stadium resonated to the Torino/Italy sounds of “Italia, Italia” Visitors to the Italian city and locals alike went home with smiles on their faces. Competition TV & Media 45 member Federations took part 33 broadcasters intended to broadcast With the curtain coming down on the 546 athletes were entered in the final the event Championships in such a fashion, it seems entries 30 European 301 men 3 non-European only appropriate that the last words 245 women 62 countries covered belong to Francesco Arese, the president 2 European records 180 hours of coverage of the local organisers and also of the 4 championship records 40 TV/Radio positions in the media Italian federation FIDAL. 26 national records tribune Around 200 written press positions “I think everyone who worked on the Event Promotions & Ticket Sales 120 photographers accredited championships can take pride in the fact 20,600 spectators over the three days that everything went well. We had 20,000 spectators across the three days here,” reflected Arese.

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 11 Your Sport for Life THE INSIDE TRACK

European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz IAAF Vice President Sebastian Coe IAAF President Lamine Diack

Congress 2009 President Wirz calls for streamlined one-day meeting system in Europe

Streamlining of one-day meetings in Europe and the introduction of long-term planning for event allocation topped the agenda at the 2009 European Athletics Congress in Lausanne in April.

European Athletics President Hansjörg taken by European Athletics since the last service to the sport. President Wirz presented the Plaque of Wirz stressed the need for a consistent Congress in Cannes in 2007. He pointed Merit to the two distinguished personalities in front of over 226 and uniform system of one-day meetings out the promises that have been delivered delegates from 48 Member Federations. in Europe, in cohesion with the IAAF and successfully, specifically regarding the other Area Associations that come under management and control of the European Bernard Amsalem, President of the French Athletics Federation, the umbrella of the governing body of the Athletics Championships Programme and Pekka Paakkanen from Finland, Arthur Lara Ramos of Portugal sport. establishment of an effective strategic and Jos Van Roy of Belgium were conferred with the European alliance with the IAAF. Athletics Veterans’ Pin for their remarkable contribution to the “European Athletics is progressing that stretched well beyond their respective well in the process of launching a new Plaque of Merit national boundaries. league system that will be ready for Wilfred Spronk of Germany, the head of the implementation in 2010,” said Wirz. 2002 European Athletics Championships Women’s Award in Munich and former head of Munich’s In line with the European Athletics policy to recognise and IAAF Senior Vice President Sergey Bubka Olympiapark, was conferred with the encourage women leaders in athletics, the President announced commended the role played by European European Athletics Plaque of Merit. Mr. the launch of the European Athletics Women’s Awards and Athletics in development of the sport in Spronk is widely recognised as one of the Leadership Programme. Europe. On behalf of the IAAF Bubka most successful and experienced sport presented a memento to President Wirz administrators in Europe. The biennial award, to be launched at the 2009 European for his unremitting service to the sport. Athletics Convention, will recognise significant contributions that Janez Aljancic, one of the longest serving serve as an example of leadership and other values associated In his address to the Congress, the council members of European Athletics, with the sport of athletics. President highlighted the giant strides was also recognised for his tremendous

12 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK THE INSIDE TRACK e e Lif Lif r r fo fo t t Spor Spor our our Y Y

IAAF President Lamine Diack IAAF Senior Vice President Sergey Bubka

President Wirz presents the Plaque of Merit to Wilfred Spronk and Council Member Janez Aljancic

The award is another step forward mark a paradigm shift in the sport. The Barra, General Co-ordinator, briefed the Congress about the following European Athletics’ initiative to inaugural edition of the Championships encouraging progress in preparation of the biggest European integrate deserving women on its different that replace the European Cup will take Athletics event. commissions. place in Leiria, Portugal, on June 20-21. The championships will play host to a Sebastian Coe presented an update on the preparations of the Convention 2010 and Congress 2011 flurry of innovative changes aimed at 2012 to be held in . He also The city of Novi Sad in Serbia was making the sport more attractive for the outlined the central role the sport of athletics will play at the awarded with the rights to host the 2010 wider audience. 2012 Games. European Athletics Convention, while the 2011 Congress will be held in London The organisers of the European Team IAAF President Lamine Diack addressed the gathering at the from April 15 to 17. The Congress 2011 Championships First, Second and Third European Athletics Official Congress Opening Dinner organised holds special significance since it will be League – Bergen, Norway; Banska Bystrica, at the Olympic Museum. an election congress. Slovakia; and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively – also briefed The Congress approved the introduction delegates on their state of preparation. All of junior category races to the three leagues take place simultaneously European Athletics Mountain Running on June 20-21. Championships. 2010 and London 2012 SPAR European Team Championships Jose Maria Odriozola, the President of the The new look SPAR European Team 2010 European Athletics Championships Championships are well on course to to be held in Barcelona, and Monica

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 13 Your Sport for Life The Inside Track Council Decisions: 2009

The European Athletics Council has made some groundbreaking decisions during the two Council meetings – Torino, Italy, in March and Frankfurt, Germany, in May – in 2009.

Following the decision of the European Athletics Council in October 2008 in to appoint one female member to the Cross Country, Race Walking and Mountain Running Commissions, Council approved the recommendations of the Executive Committee and duly appointed Celia Mendes (POR), Anne Fröberg (FIN) and Anna Pichrtova (CZE) to the respective commissions.

The 2011 European Athletics Junior Championships was awarded to , Estonia, while the 2013 edition of the event will be held in Rieti, Italy.

The Council unanimously approved a new system for long-term planning for event allocation. The initiative will facilitate better co-ordination of the international athletics calendar along with a balanced distribution of events.

The new system will offer a seven-year cycle for staging European Athletics events that includes both the biennial and annual events. The process will come in force in autumn 2009.

Following on from the promise of a consistent and uniform system of one- day meetings at the European Athletics Congress in Lausanne in April, the Council President Wirz presents the contract for the 2011 European Athletics Junior Championships to Estonian approved a new permit system for one- Federation president Erich Teigamägi. Also in picture City of Tallinn Sports Director Rein Ilves (second from left) day meetings in Europe. and European Athletics Treasurer Karel Pilny.

The structure has been designed to have a The new system comes into effect in Programme to assist education was also consistent system for one-day meetings in 2010. A detailed outline of the system will approved unanimously by the Council. Europe in liaison with the IAAF. be presented at the European Athletics Convention in Budapest in October. An online Sustainable Sport Event Under the new system, one-day meetings Toolkit designed by the Lausanne-based in Europe have been classified into The Council also created a Women’s International Academy of Sports Science European Premium League, European Leadership Award to recognise women and Technology (AISTS) aimed at helping Challenge League and Area Permit who have made significant contribution future event organisers make European Meetings. to the sport of athletics. The initiative, to Athletics events sustainable was given a come into force in 2009, is in line with nod of approval as well. European Athletics’ vision to encourage women’s participation at all levels. An annual Women’s Leader Scholarship

14 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK The Inside Track e Lif r fo t Spor our Y

Staff changes at European Athletics

European Athletics is pleased to announce the appointment of Britain’s James Mulligan as Communication Manager and Irishman Peter Stafford as Projects Officer and Events Executive at the association’s Head Office in Lausanne.

Mulligan, 32, replaces Pierce O’Callaghan regular freelance contributor to several The 25-year-old Stafford, a former Irish U23 200m champion who was in the post since 2006, and international sports organisation websites, and international and Irish indoor silver medallist brings a wealth moves across town from the Fédération most prominently those of the FIVB and of athletics knowledge to the job. Internationale de Volleyball in Lausanne, International Tennis Federation. He was Competitions Manager in Welsh Athletics from 2006 Switzerland. There he managed the Mulligan has worked on many major until 2009, when he successfully led and managed a number of editorial content of the FIVB website sporting events including the 2007 IAAF national and international events and championships. A sports and other in-house Championships and IAAF coaching degree holder, Peter continued publications and Grands Prix in Osaka, the 2006 FIFA World his professional education by successfully was responsible for Cup in Germany, and has covered a variety achieving a prestigious MBA while working delivering media of sports as a journalist, from Formula with Welsh Athletics. services at major One to figure skating. He holds a Bachelor Along with this he is a level 3 UKA Sprints FIVB world events as of Science degree from the London School coach and a UKA coach education tutor a press officer. of Economics. delivering level 1 and level 2 of the UKA Mulligan has coach education pathway. experience working as a sportswriter The Projects Officer and Events Executive role has just been created and radio and television commentator by European Athletics and Peter will be responsible for the long for a number of media outlets across the term planning, bidding and evaluation procedures for all European world, including the Associated Press, Athletics events, being project leader on events and supporting Reuters, Japan’s NHK World, BBC World the Events Team, management of specific projects identified by the Service, Radio Australia and The Japan Executive Committee and Director General. Times among others. He has been a

Women’s Leadership Awards launched

Introducing a new programme to promote and executive bodies of the Member the development of women leaders Federations are women and less than 10% in athletics, President Hansjörg Wirz of the federations currently have female announced to the European Athletics presidents. Congress in Lausanne on 18 April that “2009 will be the year to recognise the “There are many reasons for this less than many important contributions of women ideal situation and European Athletics to all levels of our sport.” cannot expect to solve all the problems. What we can do is raise awareness of the The centrepiece of the programme will be issues by highlighting some of the stories a biennial European Athletics Women’s of the many women who demonstrate “We hope that these awards will provide inspiration for others to Leadership Awards, which will comprise outstanding leadership whatever their give their time and effort to the sport and maybe change some of national level awards presented by Member position or level in the sport, whether it be the attitudes that might be preventing more women from coming Federations and European level awards as a coach, a club leader, an administrator, into our movement and into leadership positions.” presented at the European Athletics Awards someone in an elected position, etc.” Dinner in Budapest on 17 October. In addition to the awards, European Athletics will offer a limited The national level winners will be selected number of scholarships to a week-long sports leadership education “Gender equity is a fundamental value of during the months of June to August by programme that will take place in Lausanne in the summer of 2010. the athletics movement and for our sport the Member Federations, who will each Member Federation may nominate women who they see as future to grow and develop we need contributions be provided with a specially produced leaders in the sports for this unique opportunity and selection for and good work from as many people as European Athletics award to present on the scholarships will be made by the jury. possible, men and women alike,” said Wirz. an appropriate occasion. Feature stories “Our aim is to provide thought leadership about all the national level winners will “With this educational opportunity we are looking to the future in this area.” be published on the European Athletics and trying to motivate the young women who will help to shape website in the second half of 2009. the future of our sport,” said Wirz. A survey by the IAAF shows that in 2008, nearly 60% of registered athletes in The European level winner will be selected For further information see www.european-athletics.org or contact Europe were female. However, only about in October from the list of national winners project leader Peter Stafford at peter.stafford@european-athletics. 16% of the members of the councils by a European Athletics appointed jury. org.

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 15 Your Sport for Life Director General’s State of Sport Innovative changes and initiatives will help us achieve our goals

The revamp of the imminent European Team Championships, encompassing the SPAR-sponsored Super League and the three other leagues, embodies the philosophy and spirit of European Athletics as we embrace the challenges facing our sport.

We have faced resistance along the way in implementing the things in athletics: We recently saw Usain Bolt run the 150m in changes we feel are needed to make the event more dramatic Manchester, England, to a great media fanfare, while 300-metre and emotive and thus more attractive for spectators, TV viewers and 1000-metre events have also been held recently. and media, and have shown the necessary leadership to put these improvements into effect. We haven’t been afraid, though, of leading the way in making forward-thinking changes such as those found at the European We will now see how these changes are accepted by the athletes, Team Championships and we will continue to do whatever is coaches, officials and fans. We shall take into account what they necessary to support the vision outlined in our “Living the Brand” have to say and as part of an evolving process fine-tune the event Handbook: “For the highest number of Europeans to form a loyal in future editions. relationship with athletics for life.”

We are not the only ones coming up with inventive ways to For example, we are restructuring the one-day meeting system further pique the interest of spectators, TV viewers and media – one of the biggest changes within athletics in the past 40 by tweaking the traditional regulations and ways of doing years – to create a more functional and understandable season in Europe. European Athletics is also implementing a new system of long-term planning for event allocation on a seven-year cycle to ensure better co-ordination of the international calendar along with a balanced distribution of events

We aspire to be the pre-eminent thinkers in the field of sports in order to make our vision become a reality. This is reflected in what we achieve not only in the first pillar of our strategy – our events – but also in our second pillar, in which we implement social, educational and grassroots programmes and initiatives that use athletics as a basis to promote sports participation and potentially improve health, well-being, social cohesion and harmony across European society.

One exciting initiative European Athletics is leading the way in is in making our events more environmentally responsible and sustainable through our forward-thinking partnership with the Sustainable Sport and Event Toolkit developed by the International Academy of Sports Science and Technology. (We are the first and only international sports federation tobe “Development Partner”). The SSET is an online platform at the disposal of all Local Organising Committees for all events that provides checklists and best practice examples to help make their events become more sustainable.

16 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK Director General’s State of Sport e Lif r fo t Spor our Y

contribution to athletics in their country and encourage their input into the sport of athletics at all levels. We will distribute awards at Member Federation level and from this pool we will then single out certain outstanding individuals at the European Athletics Convention. There is also a Scholarship Programme on offer to women who perhaps aspire to work in sport.

The educational benefits of these scholarships are in line with our vision of further developing our educational programme. At present, we provide a number of opportunities to develop skills and share examples of best practice among Member Federations. One important development later this year will be our Communication and Branding Seminar. Here, we can work together with the Communication Managers of our Member Federations on how to promote environmental sustainability and increase women’s participation in European athletics, among other things.

We are also leading the way with our focus on youth activities. We kick-started this in a hugely successful way with our first European Athletics Youth Conference in Oslo, Norway, last December – the “Bringing Athletics to New Generations” conference attracting the largest-ever number of participants for one of our educational activities. How does this work on a practical level? Well, for a one- day meeting this may mean hiring an intern or student with We need a unified and coherent strategy an interest in the environment or who is studying in this field for youth development. I believe we can and can use the toolkit as part of a project. Their goal and the achieve this by aligning the values of our goal of the organisers may be to reduce carbon emissions by sport with what the children’s parents and “rightsizing” vehicles used to ferry athletes and officials to and the youngsters themselves want under from the venue. Or it may be to reduce and recycle the number the European Athletics slogan “Your Sport of plastic bottles used. These may be modest examples but the for Life.” SSET is a fantastic way to get people thinking and acting in a more environmentally responsible way and we hope it is adopted How do we do this? by event organizers throughout 2010 and onwards. By working closely with our Member European Athletics has also developed a Women’s Award and Federations in continuing to carry out our Leadership Programme – once again emphasising “leadership.” mission: “To lead, inspire and equip the We lead through our behaviour – through inspiration, integrity, highest number of Europeans to enable innovation, determination and responsibility – and we hope with them to form a loyal relationship with this initiative we can honour women who have made a stellar athletics for life.”

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 17 Your Sport for Life Focus on Federations

The ‘Estonian athletic dream’ started with a TV programme

It cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that the tiny country of Estonia (pop. 1.4m) punched well above its weight at Torino 2009.

In the course of a single weekend Ksenija the sport’s standard bearers were not Balta and Mikk Pahapill tripled the number particularly gifted as children. of gold medals the Baltic country has lifted in the 30 editions of the European A quick trawl through the 10 OS archives Athletics Indoor Championships to put produces Balta’s presence in the lists, but Estonia firmly in the limelight. she was by no means the best in her age group. In fact, in the final hurdles ranking It was 38 years ago that the seeds were of her participation in the programme, planted for part of that success. In a far- more than 20 athletes were better than sighted decision, the country’s television her. company, ETV, opted to organise a competition that would invite the This only confirms the old adage that a nation’s children to compete in organised good junior does not necessarily make a athletics in a programme called 10 senior champion. Olympic Starts. Olympic and world Discus champion, Gerd The children would receive professional Kanter appeared once, but was one of coaching and in some instances, former the worst in his age group, not someone stars would be called upon to help out immediately earmarked for greatness. with the coaching. Olympic and European decathlon A case in point is 2000 Olympic champion champion Nool is noticeable for his Erkki Nool who was the only previous mediocrity in the 1980s editions of the European indoor gold medallist (1996) programme, his highest position no better until Balta and Pahapill came long. than sixth.

Now he puts something back into the It may be wondered how a television sport that made him famous by helping programme can last as long as it has. to coach the nation’s youngsters for the But the answer to that is simple, says 10 Olympic Starts programme. In 1997 Kanter’s manager, Raul Rebane: “Today’s Nool also inaugurated the country’s first administrators competed in the programme private athletics academy. when they were children and now that they are today’s decision makers they There are some interesting themes to the make sure not only that the programme TV programme, not least of which is that stays but that the right decisions are made the athletes who were later to become to foster athletics in this country.” Olympic and world Discus champion

18 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK Focus on Federations e Lif r fo t Spor our Y

Run Britain: UK Athletics embraces Road Running

UK Athletics, the governing body of the sport in Great Britain, recently launched a website dedicated to road running.

The website offers a number of crucial services to event organisers including a race director’s portal, with advice and guidance on medical, police and safety issues, online licensing and the cheapest online entries in the marketplace and a race calendar with nearly 2,000 races throughout the UK listed.

The idea was conceived two years ago, when in order to meet the needs and demands of the ever-growing road running fraternity, UKA set up the Road Running Leadership Group that consisted of some of the major road race organisers, governing bodies and other organisations throughout Britain with an interest in road running.

European Indoor champion Mikk Pahapill Since then, the group has evolved and has appointed and elected representatives, advisors and professional staff The result is that there are state-of-the-art and wanted to do the same for Pahapill. including chairman Geoff Wightman, President of the LOC indoor facilities throughout the provinces Now, as Torino showed, he too is emerging for the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in and outdoor stadiums are dotted around as a real talent. Edinburgh, former IAAF World Cross Country Champion the country. Ian Stewart, who is the Senior Endurance Manager at UK But the importance of 10 Olympic Starts Athletics, and Dave Bedford, race director of the London But the 10-Olympic Starts is only part of can hardly be ignored despite the success Marathon and a member of the IAAF Cross Country and Road the picture and not every top athlete has of the individualistic coach/athlete model. Running Committees among others. come through that system. There is still Eighty percent of the Estonian national room for the individual approach whereby team has come through the ranks of Pierce O’Callaghan, former Communication Manager of an athlete emerges by dint of his own will 10-Olympic Starts. European Athletics, is the Business Manager. and a unique coach-athlete relationship. One intriguing statistic, however, is that The aim of RunBritain is simple: to make British road running As already mentioned, Kanter’s name none of the big stars of recent years the best in the world in terms of organisation, development appeared once in the results from the has come from a big city background. and performance. TV programme. It was only when the Without exception, they are all from small rough diamond was polished into shape villages. Pahapill is from Saaremaa, Balta The website also aims to address the current situation whereby by Icelandic coach Vesteinn Hafsteinsson from Nissi, Kanter from Tiduväre, Andrus over 80 percent of entrants in road races do not belong to an that an Olympic and world champion Värnik (2005 World Javelin champion) athletics/running club by establishing an online running club emerged. from Antsla in southern Estonia. with the ultimate aim of encouraging these runners to enter the “real” club system. Kanter is the product of a highly organised “Big city kids are too spoiled,” says Rabane, team of professionals ranging from Discus who was presenter for 10 Olympic Starts “Our clear priority is support for membership of running coach through dietician to psychologist in the 1980s. “The absolute majority of clubs. As the content on the website builds over the next few and overall manager, all dedicated to one the best athletes are from villages and months, we will ensure that links to Britain’s local clubs are to man. schools.” the fore,” said Wightman.

It is a model held up as an alternative Television is often seen as one of the “Last year over 2 million Britons took part in road races. I to the policy of mass participation. In reasons why kids were too distracted am sure that this number will increase in coming years and, Estonia they appear to be covering both in the past. But here is one television in parallel, I hope that RunBritain will encourage growing approaches. programme that has proved the exception numbers of these runners to discover the joys of membership to the rule. Think 10 Olympic Starts. Think of their local running club.” Pahapill is also a product of a super-team Estonia. approach. When Kanter was beginning www.realbuzzrunbritain.com to be noticed in 2004 Kanter’s manager was approached by a businessman, Urmas Randma, who was intrigued by the model

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 19 Your Sport for Life Thought Leadership

In the second in a series of thought leadership articles, Ed Warner examines how athletics must continue to look for ways to add value to sponsors, TV and how to weather the current financial crises. Reinvigorating with a strong leadership

The blows delivered to athletics’ Between the afterglow of a stunning Olympics and the prospect of a World popularity by years of drugs scandals, the fragmentation of television audiences by Championships in an iconic setting in Berlin, you could be forgiven for thinking the development of that medium into myriad digital channels, and the fierce that athletics is in rude health. But beneath the surface sheen, a combination competition for scarce time from other sports and leisure activities have been of declining audiences and the impact of the global credit crunch is a cause of under intense discussion for years. considerable concern. Strong leadership is required to reinvigorate our sport. To date, though, no answers have been found. Our competitions take the same formats, and they are marketed in the Sponsors will, rightly, question the value traditional ways. Not only is the digital age of their commitment to athletics – just It is no longer enough to dream of athletics miraculously a threat to our audience’s support, but we as they will to all the sports and arts. reappearing on global school curricula, or of a generation of have also failed to grasp the opportunities Broadcasters will feel pressure on their clean sprinters luring spectators to the stands and in front of it offers to promote athletics in novel own revenues and try and translate that their screens to watch traditional athletics meets. These things ways. The Facebook world is something into lower rights fees. Athletes too will may happen in time, but only if we take a radically enhanced that, so far, exists in a parallel universe to feel the pinch, especially those below the image of our sport out to our target audience and capture their conventional athletics. super elite. Prize money and sponsorship imaginations. deals cannot be divorced from the general If the structural trend is downwards, financial pressure. Europe is critical to this process as, to date, it has been the financial then suddenly so too is the cyclical bread basket of global athletics. If Europe doesn’t take a lead then one. A growing world economy always But before one gets too gloomy, there are we only have ourselves to blame if either no lead emerges from masks many business ills. A recession, grounds for optimism. The credit crunch elsewhere, or our sport is led in a direction that doesn’t suit our however, can turn flesh wounds into may be shocking, but it could prove own purpose. fatal ones. And this is much more than a positive force for change. Desultory a typical downturn. It is truly global, it is discussions about the long term decline in The recently announced gives some grounds for challenging all received wisdoms, and it athletics must suddenly take on an urgency encouragement. This could be a global product with Europe at its has dislocated the normal financial and that has been lacking so far. The challenge heart. But only if all parties are prepared to think radically about commercial mechanisms. Only an ostrich to athletics’ leaders across Europe and the spectator and athlete experience. A rehash of what has gone wearing rose-tinted glasses could believe worldwide is to envision a future for our before would be a disaster. Not because what has gone before is that athletics could be immune. sport that meets the needs of today’s youth disastrous, but because in getting to this stage athletics has given and can be delivered within the constraints itself a precious opportunity for reinvention. We dare not waste of today’s economy. the chance we have carved out for ourselves.

Whenever change is mooted, the purists cry foul. Just look at the furore caused by the event innovations introduced for this year’s inaugural European Team Championships. We can’t though, survive on the enthusiasm of the purists alone. Other sports have shown that it is possible to reinvent themselves without losing their soul. This is our challenge. I know we can rise to it and I hope that the coming years are marked by a willingness to innovate and experiment for the good of athletics’ future.

Ed Warner is Chairman of UKA, the Great Britain and North- ern Ireland athletics federation. He is a successful business- man with a background in financial markets and is now a director of a number of companies primarily in financial services. He is a keen club runner, with a recent personal best in the marathon of 3:17.32.

20 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK Making Athletics Green e Lif r fo t Spor our Y European Athletics to partner sustainability toolkit initiative

Underlining its commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, European Athletics has announced a pioneering partnership with the Lausanne- based International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (AISTS).

The two organisations will work together Currently available in a test or “beta” to develop a Sustainable Sport and Event version, the SSET integrates standards Toolkit (SSET) – an online “how to” guide and practices from leading sustainability for organisers interested in making their authorities around the world including events more environmentally sound and the , the International Organisation for sustainable. Standardisation (ISO 1400-14006), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI G3),the European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz IOC Agenda 21 and Guide to Sport, said: “Everyone is aware of how important Environment and Sustainable Development it is to respect the environment and this and the United Nations Environment applies to sports events. With this project, Programme (UNEP). European Athletics is demonstrating leadership in this field as well as how the The tool kit provides practical support values of our sport can add to the quality for organisers in the form of checklists of life. and examples of best practice for a more sustainable approach to event organisation. “The SSET will also help organisers to It covers opportunities related to venue become more cost efficient, attract selection and construction, transportation, support from institutions and sponsors accommodation, catering, marketing and organisers from around Europe,” said and build our sport’s image by making communications as well as the areas of Wirz. “The end product will be a tool kit athletics events more responsible, ethical community and supply chain involvement. that is customised for athletics, which we and sustainable.” can then promote throughout our sport “In the coming months we will work with starting next year.” AISTS Assistant Director Matt Dolf said: the AISTS and VANOC to add value to “The SSET is the first initiative of its kind the SSET by drawing on the experience For more information on the SSET, visit in the sports industry. There is a need to of major event and one-day meeting www.aists.org/sset improve the sustainability of sport events and the interest in the SSET as a practical guide for doing so is growing among sports organisations around the world.

“We are extremely proud to have the commitment and support of European Athletics as our first official Development Partner.”

The AISTS launched the SSET initiative in August 2008 in cooperation with the Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) became a principal supporting partner in March 2009.

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 21 Your Sport for Life Countdown to Barcelona 2010 B10 ENTERS THE FUTURE

From 25 July 2009, athletics fans who want to secure a ringside seat in the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium to watch the 20th European Athletics Championships Barcelona 2010 will be able to buy tickets.

On that day the International Athletics In fact, the first booking was made from Meeting “Ciutat de Barcelona” will take Italy, one day after the European Athletics place, as well as the 17th anniversary of Indoor Championships in Torino had taken the Barcelona Olympic Games Opening place in March. Ceremony. In these testing times where the economy The same day will also see the start of the is being threatened by the global championships’ countdown, one year and economical crisis, Barcelona 2010 has one day before the event begins. chosen to charge very affordable prices which will guarantee a full stadium every Even though the booking of Event Passes day. started a few months ago, the ticket sales stage will help inform the organisation The most expensive seats can be bought about the interest of athletics fans in at 600 euros for a 6-day ticket (the whole Barcelona 2010. Championships), and the cheapest ones cost under 60 euros also for a 6-day ticket. So far, the expectations are very high, in Furthermore, there are also mid-range view of the bookings that the Organising offers for excellent seats at 300 euros and Committee has received not only from 120 euros. Barcelona and other big cities in Spain, but also from around Europe. Carlos Martín, Director of Communica- tion, Barcelona 2010

22 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK Countdown to Barcelona 2010 e Lif r fo t Spor our Y

Don’t miss the opportunity to reserve the best seats available by sending an e-mail to: [email protected]

The four Event Pass options: Zone Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Event Pass 600 € 300 € 120 € 60 €

Disciplines: For the first time in the championships’ A Pole Vault, B Long/Triple Jump, C Discus/Hammer Throw, D history, the five road events (two Javelin Throw; E High Jump, F Shot Put marathons and three race walking events) Reserved areas: will take place on a city circuit in the city R1 VIP tribune, R2 Press tribune, R3 Athletes/Volunteers/LOC, centre. It is a new experience which will R4 LOC/Podium require a great organisational effort as two finish lines will need to be set up, this time on the streets of Barcelona. This For the Opening Ceremony, a high standard show, which will be initiative aims to bring Barcelona 2010 produced by the company IMAGINA, will be free and will be held closer to citizens and to give athletes the in Avenida Reina María Cristina, by the Magic Fountain, on 26 support from their fans, who will be closer July. The stadium activities will start on 27 July and will last until 1 to them. August. The timetables have not yet been approved. Nearly a year to the start of Barcelona The refurbishment works in the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium are 2010, the promotional campaigns intensify progressing on schedule. The video scoreboard in the South at all levels. Barni, the event’s mascot, is Area has been dismantled, and a new one will be installed and already a relatively well-known character tested this summer during the Meeting Ciutat de Barcelona and in the city and he is always present in the the Spanish Championships, the two main test events for the main sporting events that take place in organisation. the city and provinces of Barcelona.

Thanks to the support from Member Federations of European Athletics, the organisation also hopes to increase awareness of the championships over the next few months. Barcelona 2010 is starting to be a reality. Bthere!

INSIDE TRACK 1|09 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 23 Your Sport for Life Preview Let battle commence for the first SPAR European Team Championships

High on a hill in the centre of Leiria, a castle has stood for almost 900 years. Its purpose has usually been to repel foreign invaders attempting to conquer the Portuguese city but during the weekend of June 20-21, writes Phil Minshull, visitors from overseas will be welcomed with open arms.

The reason for the defences being dropped new audience, both in person at the is that the very first SPAR European Team championships themselves and in front of Championships will be staged in the the TV screens across the continent. nearby Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, just a good Javelin throw down the hill from To simplify some of what will be witnessed the historic Castelo. for the first time in Leiria: in the 3,000m, 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase, the Europe’s leading 12 athletics nations – last athlete will be eliminated after each Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great of three laps in the middle stages of the Britain, Greece, Italy, Poland, Russia, race, what’s often called “Devil-Take- stars with some up-and-coming talents just starting to make Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, as well as the The-Hindmost” in other sports such as their name, and the country’s chief coach Valentin Maslakov has hosts Portugal – have been invited to cycling. suggested it could be the same this year. contest the inaugural championships, which replaces the SPAR European Cup. In the throws and horizontal jumps, there “We will send a very good team, even if a few stars like Yelena will still be four rounds overall in each Isinbayeva will not be there,” said Maslakov. The most significant change from what individual competition but after two was the Cup is that, for the first time, rounds, only the best six competitors will With Russia having won the women’s Cup for the last 12 years, the world’s premier team competition be allowed a further attempt, and then and sometimes by huge margins, they will almost certainly get a for nations will bring men and women only the best four will be given a fourth big contribution from the female members of their team but the together under the umbrella of a single and final jump or throw. pressure will be on their men to perform up to the same level if competition. they are to emerge as champions. Trials at European Athletics meetings Whereas before there were separate during 2008 have proven that the new Last year, the Russian men finished fifth in the Cup, but a crude men’s and women’s Cup winners, only rules are not only workable but will bring addition of the men’s and women’s scores would have seen them one country can win the championships. a new dimension to the Championships. just come out on top overall, ahead of Great Britain. There will no longer be any debate about who is in pole position among the 50 “I can appreciate that there is some In almost a mirror image to the Russian situation, Great Britain members of European Athletics. nervousness among athletes and coaches were convincing winners of the men’s Cup in Annecy 12 months especially but I have little doubt that the ago while their women finished third despite several big names “The changes for this competition are concept will be an unrivalled success and performing below par. some of the most innovative to have one that we can all be proud of in the happened in athletics for many years and future,” added Wirz. However, the likes of France and Germany are unlikely to let are a direct response to the needs of TV, the Championships become just a two-way duel and the pair spectators and members of the general The big question is which country will will also want to have a say in the destination of the very first public,” enthused European Athletics prevail after 40 events – 20 for men and SPAR European Team Championships while the remaining eight President Hansjörg Wirz recently. 20 for women – in Leiria? nations will doubtless be fielding their strongest teams in order to provide additional thrills, and probably a few upsets. Exciting new rules changes, in particular Russia will probably start as favourites. with the distance races and the field In recent years, their teams competing in Phil Minshull is a -based journalist and a regular events, are expected to draw in a whole the Cup have combined established world contributor to European Athletics publications.

24 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 1|09 INSIDE TRACK