UPDATE Newsletter of the European Athletic Association 3|05 December

President’s Message

HANSJÖRG WIRZ such as a restructuring of the competition calendar, the creation of new competition It was a pleasure formats and how to attract more young to see so many people to the sport. 2 ATHLETE members of the OF THE YEAR European Athletics is becoming ever more A guide to the contenders for the family at the competitive and it is increasingly diffi cult 2005 award recent European for European athletes to win medals on Athletics Calendar the world stage. This year, for the fi rst Conference and time, less than half the fi nalists at the 5 PREVIEW Extraordinary Congress in Reykjavik, and it World Championships came from Information about future EAA was an opportunity for us to present the and the percentage of medals won fell to events importance of the ‘European Athletics – a low of 45%, compared to 64% at the the need for change’ project for the future 1988 . This is one of the 8 INSIDE of our sport. challenges that we have to address. Interview with new EAA Director The Congress also took a signifi cant decision We also have to ensure that the sport of General Christian Milz for the future in approving the new EAA athletics continues to meet the needs Constitution. The Constitution refl ects of modern society. Athletics must touch the new era we are entering and better people’s lives and involve them on an 10 FACTS refl ects the complexity of the operation of emotional level. There are many new and Updates from the EAA a modern sports organisation. different leisure activities in today’s world and we need to develop new ways of At its meeting in at the presenting athletics to attract and retain 12 FINISH Ursula Kaiser talks to Russian triple beginning of October, the EAA Council fans. We need to regard our events as a jumper adopted a framework for change, piece of entertainment. recognising that European Athletics currently faces a number of challenges. 2006 will be an extremely important year Although the sport is not in immediate for the EAA as we move forward with the danger, we have a responsibility to consider framework for change. In addition, our what the situation could be in fi ve or ten fl agship event, the European Athletics years time and act now to ensure that Championships, take place in athletics continues to be a popular and in August and will be a fantastic showcase attractive sport. for our sport. I am sure that with the support of the whole European Athletics The EAA does not want to move forward in family, our partners and the media, we can isolation, but in cooperation with the IAAF make next year a great success. and of course our Member Federations. We want to set up a joint high-level working [email protected] group with the IAAF as soon as possible Hansjörg Wirz (SUI) is the President of the European Athletic Association to consider matters of common interest European Athletic Association Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 18 1003

Phone +41 (21) 313 43 50 Fax +41 (21) 313 43 51 Email offi [email protected] Web www.european-athletics.org

UPDATE 3|05 Newsletter of the EAA www.european-athletics.org 1 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Waterford Crystal European Athlete

of the Year Trophy 2005 Ladji Doucouré

This year, the EAA will award the Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy for the 13th time. You can help chose the winners in the internet poll on www.european-athletics.org until 31 December – and win a trip to next year’s European Athletics Indoor Cup in Liévin, , on 5 March.

The winners of the Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy 2005 will be decided by votes from EAA Member Federations, the media and the general public, with the results from each group of voters counting for one third of the athlete’s fi nal score.

Amongst the shortlist of 22 men and 22 women are 18 world champions, three world record breakers and 18 Ivan Heshko leaders of the IAAF world rankings for their event.

YURIY BORZAKOVSKIY (RUS), 800M Contenders: Men Heads the IAAF world rankings for his event and took the Silver medal in . (LTU), DISCUS Was the quickest European this year with Won in Helsinki with a last round throw of 1:44.18. 70.17m, the fi rst ever 70m plus throw in a World Championships 2 global championships. Only beaten once World/European Season List 4/1 all year, he lies fourth in the IAAF overall World Ranking (overall/event) 34/1 world rankings. World Athletics Final 3 World Championships 1 World/European Season List 1/1 VADIM DEVYATOVSKIY (BLR), World Ranking (overall/event) 4/1 HAMMER World Athletics Final 1 Although only ranked number two in (GER), SHOT his own country this year behind Ivan Bronze medallist in Helsinki with 20.99m Tikhon, his 84.90m throw in July took and winner of the SPAR European Cup in him to fourth on the European all-time June, he set a personal best of 21.36m in list. Won the Silver medal behind Tikhon May. in Helsinki. World Championships 3 World Championships 2 World/European Season List 5/2 World/European Season List 2/2 World Ranking (overall/event) 100/5 World Ranking (overall/event) 72/2 World Athletics Final 4 World Athletics Final 3 SPAR European Cup 1 LADJI DOUCOURE (FRA), TIM BENJAMIN (GBR), 400M 110M HURDLES Broke 45 seconds for 400m for the fi rst Became only the second ever European IVAN HESHKO (UKR), 1500M Gold medallist at the European Athletics time this year, dipping under the mark a hurdler to run under 13 seconds with Indoor Championships in March and total of fi ve times with a best of 44.56 at 12.97 at the French Championships in July. winner at the World Athletics Final, he the World Athletics Final to go eighth on Won Gold at the World Championships in just missed out on a medal in Helsinki, the European all-time list. both the 110m hurdles and the 4x100m fi nishing fourth. World Championships 5 and was European Indoor champion World Championships 4 World/European Season List 7/1 earlier in the year. European Athletics Indoor Champs 1 World Ranking (overall/event) 50/2 World Championships 1 World/European Season List 9/2 World Athletics Final 2 European Athletics Indoor Champs 1 World/European Season List 1/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 24/3 RENS BLOM (NED), World Ranking (overall/event) 6/1 World Athletics Final 1 Became the fi rst ever male Dutch Gold World Athletics Final 6 medallist at a global championship when SPAR European Cup 1 STEFAN HOLM (SWE), he cleared 5.80m in diffi cult weather Cleared a personal best of 2.40m, the conditions to win in Helsinki. FRANCISCO JAVIER FERNANDEZ highest jump indoors since 1994, to win World Championships 1 (ESP), 20KM WALK the European Indoor title in March and World/European Season List 12/3 Leader of the IAAF world race walking tops the IAAF world rankings for his World Ranking (overall/event) 92/3 rankings, he was a Silver medallist in event. World Athletics Final 8 Helsinki and also the winner of the IAAF World Championships 7 Race Walking Challenge. European Athletics Indoor Champs 1 World Championships 2 World/European Season List 3=/2= World/European Season List 3/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 25/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 29/1 World Athletics Final 3

2 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of the EAA 3|05 UPDATE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

GERD KANTER (EST), DISCUS (NED), SHOT Won a Silver medal in Helsinki and then Silver medallist at both the World Contenders: Women took the World University title a week Championships and European Athletics (RUS), later. His national record of 70.10m in Indoor Championships, he has set April moved him to tenth on the European national records both indoors (20.79m) 800M Won the Bronze medal at the World all-time list. and outdoors (21.41m) this year. Championships and is quickest in the World Championships 2 World Championships 2 world this year with her personal best of World/European Season List 2/2 European Athletics Indoor Champs 2 1:56.07 at the Russian Championships. World Ranking (overall/event) 32/2 World/European Season List 4/1 World Championships 3 World Athletics Final 2 World Ranking (overall/event) 136/6 World/European Season List 1/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 36/3 SERGEY KIRDYAPKIN (RUS), ANDREAS THORKILDSEN (NOR), World Athletics Final 8 50KM WALK JAVELIN Winner of the 50km walk in Helsinki in a Silver medallist in Helsinki, he has set four (FRA), personal best time of 3:38:08 which took national records this year with his best of him to eighth on the European all-time list. 89.60m at the World Athletics Final taking 100M & 200M Won her fi rst individual medals at a global World Championships 1 him to 10th on the European all-time list. championship when she took two Bronzes World/European Season List 3/1 World Championships 2 in Helsinki. Won over 100m at fi ve of the World Ranking (overall/event) -/- World/European Season List 3/3 six Golden League meetings and ran under World Ranking (overall/event) 30/2 YURIY KRIMARENKO (UKR), 11 seconds seven times in 2005. World Athletics Final 2 HIGH JUMP World Championships Surprise winner of the at the 100m/200m 3/3 IVAN TIKHON (BLR), HAMMER World Championships where he was the World/European Season List World champion and unbeaten this year, only man to clear 2.32m. 100m 4/1 he threw 86.73m in Brest on 3 July to miss World Championships 1 200m 4/1 the world record by just one centimetre. World/European Season List 7=/5= World Ranking (overall/event) 10/1&3 World Championships 1 World Ranking (overall/event) 216/8 World Athletics Final 200m 3 World/European Season List 1/1 World Athletics Final 8 SPAR European Cup 100m/200m 1/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 34/1 World Athletics Final 1 MARIAN OPREA (ROM), (FRA), ANDRUS VÄRNIK (EST), JAVELIN & Bronze medallist in Helsinki, he moved to After a great battle with Carolina Klüft, Took the world title in Helsinki with a Carolina Klüft fourth on the European all-time list with won the Silver medal in the heptathlon in throw of 87.17m and also won at the his national record of 17.81m in Lausanne Helsinki and then added the Bronze medal Golden League meeting in . in July. in the long jump. Set a new French record World Championships 1 World Championships 3 of 6889 points in Arles in June. World/European Season List 5/4 World/European Season List 1/1 World Championships Hep/LJ 2/3 World Ranking (overall/event) 165/4 World Ranking (overall/event) 38/1 World/European Season List Hep 1/1 World Athletics Final 8 LJ 8/7 TERO PITKÄMÄKI (FIN), JAVELIN World Ranking (overall/event LJ) 14/7 SIMON VROEMEN (NED), Threw over 90 metres in three competitions World Athletics Final LJ 4 in 2005 with a best of 91.53m in June to 3000M Set a new European record of 8:04.95 place him sixth on the European all-time (SWE), list. Tops the world rankings in his event in on 26 August and fi nished fi fth and fi rst European at the World HIGH JUMP and lies 16th overall. Came back from a career threatening Championships. World Championships 4 injury to dominate the 2005 season, World Championships 5 World/European Season List 1/1 winning all her competitions including the World/European Season List 5/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 16/1 World Championships with 2.02m. World Ranking (overall/event) 174/11 World Athletics Final 1 World Championships 1 World Athletics Final 9 World/European Season List 1/1 RONALD POGNON (FRA), 100M World Ranking (overall/event) 21/1 Nadezhda Ostapchuk Became only the fi fth ever European World Athletics Final 1 sprinter and the fi rst Frenchman to run under 10 seconds for 100m with 9.99 in FRANKA DIETZSCH (GER), DISCUS Lausanne in July. Set a European record World champion in Helsinki with a season’s for 60m of 6.45 seconds in February and best of 66.56m, she also won at the SPAR won 4x100m Gold in Helsinki. European Cup in June. European Athletics Indoor Champs 2 World Championships 1 World/European Season List 5=/1 World/European Season List 2/2 World Ranking (overall/event) 50/5 World Ranking (overall/event) 86/2 SPAR European Cup 1 World Athletics Final 2 SPAR European Cup 1 ROMAN SEBRLE (CZE), European Indoor champion in March, CONSTANTINA DITA-TOMESCU he went on to take the Silver medal at (ROM), MARATHON the World Championships and was the Won her fi rst global title at the IAAF World winner of the IAAF World Combined Half Marathon Championships in October Events Challenge. and took a Bronze medal in the marathon World Championships 2 in Helsinki. Set a national record of European Athletics Indoor Champs 1 2:21:30 in the Chicago Marathon to go World/European Season List 2/1 third on the European all-time list. World Ranking (overall/event) 40/1 World Championships 3 World/European Season List 6/2 Roman Sebrle World Ranking (overall/event) 20/2

UPDATE 3|05 Newsletter of the EAA www.european-athletics.org 3 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

YELENA ISINBAYEVA (RUS), POLE VAULT Win a trip to the European Athletics Indoor Cup in Liévin! Became the fi rst woman ever to clear fi ve metres in the pole vault in on 22 All participants in the public vote on www.european-athletics.org will be automatically July. Improved to 5.01m, her eighth world entered into a prediction competition. Entrants who have voted for the top three record of the year, to win the world title male and female athletes in the correct order in the poll will be entered into a draw to in Helsinki and was also European Indoor win an expenses paid trip to the European Athletics Indoor Cup in Liévin, France, on champion. Leads the IAAF overall world Sunday 5 March 2006. The second name out the hat will win a PictureMate printer rankings. donated by the EAA’s Technical Partner EPSON and there will be some additional World Championships 1 runners-up prizes. European Athletics Indoor Champs 1 World/European Season List 1/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 1/1 World Athletics Final 1 PAULA RADCLIFFE (GBR), OLIMPIADA IVANOVA (RUS), TATYANA LYSENKO (RUS), MARATHON 20KM WALK HAMMER Finally won a Gold medal in a major global Set a new world record of 1:25:41 to win Broke the world record with a throw championship when she led the marathon the 20km title at the World Championships of 77.06m in on 15 July and from start to fi nish in Helsinki. Set a world and also won at the European Cup Race won the Bronze medal at the World record in a women only race of 2:17: 42 in Walking in May. Championships. London in April and lies fourth in the IAAF World Championships 1 World Championships 3 overall world rankings. World/European Season List 1/1 World/European Season List 1/1 World Championships 1 World Ranking (overall/event) -/- World Ranking (overall/event) 121/2 World Athletics Final 4 World/European Season List 1/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 4/1 (RUS), STEFFI NERIUS (GER), JAVELIN LONG JUMP ANNA ROGOWSKA (POL), Won the Silver medal at the World Unbeaten this year except for at the World POLE VAULT Championships, tops the world rankings Championships (Bronze) and at the World Has set six national records this year, with for the event and was also a winner at the Athletics Final (second), she set a personal a best of 4.83m outdoors to go third on World Athletics Final. best of 66.52m in qualifying in Helsinki. the European all-time list, and won a Silver World Championships 2 World Championships 3 medal at the European Athletics Indoor World/European Season List 2/2 World/European Season List 4/2 Championships. World Ranking (overall/event) 36/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 102/2 World Championships 6 World Athletics Final 1 World Athletics Final 2 SPAR European Cup 1 European Athletics Indoor Champs 2 World/European Season List 2/2 CAROLINA KLÜFT (SWE), CHRISTINA OBERGFÖLL (GER), World Ranking (overall/event) 94/3 HEPTATHLON JAVELIN World Athletics Final 7 Beat Eunice Barber to the world title SPAR European Cup 1 with a score of 6887 points and lies third Surprise winner of the Silver medal at the World Championships when she became in overall IAAF world rankings. Was TATYANA TOMASHOVA (RUS), European Indoor champion at pentathlon only the second ever women to throw over 1500M in March with 4948 points, the second 70m with the new specifi cation javelin. Defended her world title in Helsinki, highest score ever. Her new European record of 70.03m was winning in 4:00.35. World Championships 1 a massive 5.44m improvement on her World Championships 1 European Athletics Indoor Champs 1 previous best. World/European Season List 4/3 World/European Season List Hep 2/2 World Championships 2 World Ranking (overall/event) 66/- LJ 5/4 World/European Season List 2/1 World Athletics Final 2 World Ranking (overall/event) 3/1&8 World Ranking (overall/event) 243/4 RYTA TURAVA (BLR), 20KM WALK (RUS), NADEZHDA OSTAPCHUK (BLR), SHOT Silver medallist in Helsinki in 1:27:05, her HAMMER second national record of the year. Tops Winner of the world title with 75.10m, Unbeaten this year, she won Gold medals at the World Championships and the the IAAF world race walking rankings and she has thrown over 70 metres in eight of was also the winner of the IAAF Race her 11 competitions this year. European Athletics Indoor Championships and set a new national record of 21.09m Walking Challenge. World Championships 1 World Championships 2 World/European Season List 3/3 in July. World Championships 1 World/European Season List 3/3 World Ranking (overall/event) 144/4 World Ranking (overall/event) 34/1 World Athletics Final 3 European Athletics Indoor Champs 1 World/European Season List 1/1 World Ranking (overall/event) 49/1 YEKATERINA VOLKOVA (RUS), TATYANA LEBEDEVA (RUS), World Athletics Final 1 3000M STEEPLECHASE TRIPLE JUMP Silver medallist in Helsinki in a personal Was the sole winner of the one million YULIYA NOSOVA-PECHONKINA best of 9:20.49, she has also set personal dollar Golden League jackpot as the only (RUS), 400M HURDLES bests in the mile and 3000m this season. athlete to win six meetings out of six. World Championships 2 Missed the World Championships through Double World Gold medallist in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m, she was the World/European Season List 2/1 injury but stands top of the world rankings World Ranking (overall/event) 213/- for her event. only athlete in the world to run under 53 World/European Season List 1/1 seconds for 400m hurdles this year with 52.90 in Helsinki. World Ranking (overall/event) 19/1 To vote in the 2005 Waterford Crystal World Championships 1 World Athletics Final 2 European Athlete of the Year poll, go World/European Season List 1/1 to www.european-athletics.org. But World Ranking (overall/event) 13/2 hurry, the poll closes on 31 December. World Athletics Final 2

4 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of the EAA 3|05 UPDATE PREVIEW SPAR European Cross Country Championships

The ’s Sergiy Lebid has won a record fi ve European Cross Country titles and is aiming to add a sixth in Tilburg when the event takes place there on Sunday 11 December.

Sergiy Lebid is the only male athlete to “The European Cross Country Champion- (SLO) in 1999 when he was seventh. He have competed in all 11 SPAR European ships is a special event for me as I have took the Gold in 1998 in Ferrara (ITA), the Cross Country Championships since the always been successful. Even from a Silver in 2000 in Malmö (SWE) and since fi rst in 1994. Recently he spoke about his young age it always felt easy to run well 2001 has been unbeatable in the event, experiences at the event. at the championships and I developed a winning Gold in Thun (SUI), Medulin tradition of winning. I enjoy cross country (CRO), (GBR) and Heringsdorf because you don’t run so many laps as on (GER). the track and supporters are closer, right next to the course.” “In 1998 I was in very good shape but did not go into the race really intent In 1994, in the fi rst Championships in on winning. But during the race the Alnwick (GBR), Lebid fi nished 79th while circumstances and the feeling were right. still a junior (junior races were introduced I felt strong and I was able to win my fi rst in 1997). In 1995 the championships were title, and it really felt quite easy. again held in Alnwick and he improved to 11th. “1999 was not a good experience. We fl ew from the Ukraine to and “In 1994 I was injured and could not run then had to take a bus to after for two weeks before the event. I was in waiting for two hours. We only arrived in good shape prior to that but the injury Velenje at 6am on the day of the race. I meant that I could not run well. In 1995 was simply too tired and I could not run the championships were on the same as I should have been able to given the course so I was able to use the lessons shape I was in. that I had learnt in 1994, it was easier to run well and the result was much better.” “In 2000 I had a small injury. Before the race I thought I could win but it didn’t In 1996 he fi nished 58th in the mud of work out. But I was happy with second Charleroi (BEL). place. And from 2001 on I never made any more mistakes. I always started the “1996 was the same story as 1994, I was race in good condition and therefore was injured before the championships. It was able to win. cold, muddy and a hard race and I simply wasn’t well prepared.” “The build up to last year’s race in Heringsdorf was tough though. I was Lebid’s fi rst medal came in 1997 in Oeiras training in the south of , it was (POR). He fi nished third, just four seconds minus 10 degrees and there was so much behind winner Carsten Jörgensen (DEN) snow. For 20 days I could only run on and three seconds behind Claes Nyberg the track and I became dizzy from going (SWE) who took the Silver medal. round and round. I was so happy to arrive in Heringsdorf and be able to run on a “If I had to choose one championship that loop that was longer that 400m!” was more special than the others, I would say 1997 - winning your fi rst medal always And what about the 2005 Championships stays in your heart.” in Tilburg?

Since that year, Lebid has only failed to “Well of course I want to continue my Sergiy Lebid winning the fourth of his fi ve European Cross Country titles in Edinburgh in 2003 fi nish on the podium once, in Velenje tradition of winning.”

UPDATE 3|05 Newsletter of the EAA www.european-athletics.org 5 PREVIEW European Athletics Indoor Cup

The third edition of the European Athletics Indoor Cup takes place in Liévin, France, on Sunday 5 March 2006.

The 2006 European Athletics Indoor Cup will be part of a weekend of athletics ‘in two acts’ at the Stade Couvert Régional in Liévin in northern France. The Cup, which takes place on Sunday 5 March will be preceded by the annual Meeting Gaz de France du Pas de Calais on Friday evening. Some of Europe’s top athletics stars will be competing over the weekend with world 110m hurdles and 4x100m Gold medallist Ladji Doucouré having stated that his only indoor competition of the winter will be in the colours of France at the European Athletics Indoor Cup.

Events MEN Track: 60m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 60m hurdles & 800m x 600m x Qualifi ed Teams 400m x 200m relay MEN WOMEN Tickets Field: high jump, long jump & shot France Tickets for the European Athletics France Indoor Cup are priced at € 25 (€ 20 for WOMEN Germany Poland FFA members) for the main stand along Track: 60m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, Romania the home straight and € 20 (€ 15 for FFA 3000m, 60m hurdles & 800m x 600m x Poland Russia members) in the rest of the arena. Until 400m x 200m relay Russia * 15 January you can purchase a special Field: pole vault & triple jump Spain ‘Pack Fan d’Athlé’ for €45 (main stand) Ukraine Ukraine or € 30 which gives entry to the European * The Spanish women’s team replace Italy who Athletics Indoor Cup and the Meeting Gaz have withdrawn from the competition because de France du Pas de Calais. of a clash of dates with their national indoor calendar. LOC Contact Jean Gracia Fédération Française d’Athlétisme 33 avenue Pierre de Coubertin 75640 Cedex 13 France Tel: +33 1 53 80 70 11 Fax: +33 1 45 81 40 30 Email: [email protected]

You can fi nd more information about the European Athletics Indoor Cup on the event website – www.lievin2006.com – which will be launched on 6 December.

The Stade Couvert Régional in Liévin

6 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of the EAA 3|05 UPDATE PREVIEW

SVT Head of Production Bo Lindqvist showing fellow broadcasters around the Ullevi Stadium during the World Broadcaster Meeting

European Athletics Championships

An update on preparations for the 19th European Athletics new networks and to help them bring enthusiasm to their continuing work in Championships which take place in Gothenburg, Sweden, athletics in their home countries. on 6*-13 August 2006. Participants will discuss topics such as the * The opening ceremony will take place in the city centre on Sunday 6 August. The competition starts on Monday image of athletics, the infl uence of young 7 August in the Ullevi Stadium. people on the sport and the future of athletics in Europe. They will also have the opportunity to visit Gothenburg and the Broadcasters and Team Leaders visit the four team hotels as well as to fi nd out surrounding area and, of course, to attend Gothenburg about the services that will be offered to the European Athletics Championships. Around 60 representatives from 18 teams during the Championships. After fi ve days of sharing experiences with television and radio channels attended the their European colleagues, participants World Broadcaster Meeting in Gothenburg Rising interest in the Championships will return to their home countries with on 10-12 October. Also at the meeting According to a recent survey, 36% of new ideas that will contribute to the were representatives from the EBU, the Swedes are now aware that Gothenburg development of European Athletics. EAA, the Local Organising Committee and will host the European Athletics the technical partners for the event. Championships next summer. This is an Offi cial music impressive doubling of the fi gure from a Engine, a company specialising in creating The international broadcasters were survey conducted in June. Television is the music concepts for large events, will provided with technical information about main reason for the increasing awareness oversee the production, recording and the host broadcaster operation, data and – 57% claim they got the information choice of artist for the offi cial music timing, facilities and telecommunications from watching TV. programme for the Championships. services as well as more general information about the event. Broadcasters also had In addition, 12% of Swedes say that they “Our aim is to create a song that will be a the opportunity to visit the Ullevi Stadium, plan to visit the Championships (compared musical trademark for the event and that the site for the International Broadcast to 5% in June) and 67% to follow the can be used at different occasions,” says Centre and the RTV Compound and the event through the media. Nicklas Larsson of the Göteborg 2006 media hotels. organising committee. European Youth Forum “We are very pleased with this meeting Two young leaders (aged 18-25) from LOC Contact and the preparations so far. Of course, each EAA Member Federation have been 19th European Athletics there are some questions and requests invited to take part in a European Youth Championships 2006 but the overall impression is good,” said Forum during the Championships on 5- Box 349 Susanne Grohmann, Chief of Production 10 August. The aim of the Forum is to S – 401 25 Göteborg, Sweden for German TV channel ARD. inspire young leaders in athletics, to create Tel: +46 31 61 54 50 Fax: +46 31 61 54 74 At the end of October it was the turn of Email: offi [email protected] the team leaders from the EAA Member Enter our competition to win For more information about the European Federations to travel to Gothenburg to tickets for Göteborg 2006 on Athletics Championships 2006 visit www.european-athletics.org visit the stadium, the training areas and www.goteborg2006.com

UPDATE 3|05 Newsletter of the EAA www.european-athletics.org 7 INSIDE European Athletics – the need for change

New EAA Director General Christian Milz talks about how the EAA is tackling the challenges facing European Athletics.

‘Change’ has been the buzzword at the “Firstly, we need to fi nd new ways “To boost the interest of young people, EAA since Christian Milz took up his post of promoting European Athletics and athletics must be taught in a fun as Director General at the beginning of our events. The world of marketing is and attractive way in schools and it needs September. changing and we need to ensure we to again become an integral part of match the needs and expectations of the physical education curriculum. A framework for change, with the the corporate sector with the values of The stamina, speed and movement objective of working together with the European Athletics. We have therefore coordination that children learn through IAAF to ensure a successful future for contracted a unique expert in the fi eld athletics is a basic requirement for good European Athletics, has been adopted by of , Patrick Nally, to health.” the EAA Council and was presented at work with the EAA to develop new and the recent European Athletics Congress in innovative marketing strategies. And is Milz optimistic about the future? Reykjavik. “Secondly, we need to rethink the “Yes, of course! It is important to stress Milz is part of a fi ve person Steering competition programme and ensure that that European Athletics is not in crisis, Group which has been set up to drive the it is understandable to the public. The some federations are performing very well. framework for change forward and fi rmly athletics season needs to have a logical We just realise that we need to change to believes that the EAA should not act in progession. Athletics is not a complex ensure a successful future. In fact some isolation. sport in itself but it needs to be presented areas of the sport, such as road , more clearly. jogging and fun runs, are very popular and “It is very important that change takes we need to take advantage of that and place in cooperation with the IAAF. We “Last but not least, we need to increase create a common brand across all athletic do not want to go our own way without the interest and appeal of athletics to activities, an ‘umbrella concept’. the world governing body and for that the general public, in particular young reason we want to set up a joint working people. Athletics needs heroes and stars “It was very positive that the main group immediately. The group should that people can connect with. Our events recommendations from a recent meeting involve key decision makers from both must be exciting and create emotion and of European athletics experts to brainstorm organisations and should meet regularly. empathy. The standard of TV production ideas about how the image and appeal of must be high level and consistent. The athletics can be improved refl ected the “The EAA should be a strong leader of entire city should embrace the event, framework for change adopted by the European Athletics, but with the active it should be a ‘championship city’ and EAA Council. It shows that we are all support of our Member Federations. The not a ‘city with a championship’. The thinking in the same way. Now the EAA EAA needs to match the expectations and Championships City Festival which will needs to take the lead and make things the needs of the federations and their take place in Gothenburg during next happen. It is a big challenge but one that, constituent clubs. We are really counting year’s European Athletics Championships in cooperation with the IAAF and with the on the federations to work with us as we is an excellent example of what can be support of our member federations, we won’t succeed without them. done. are ready to embrace.”

“It is the role of the Steering Group to More information about the ‘European oversee the different projects relating Athletics – the need for change’ project is to the ‘need for change’ project. We available on www.european-athletics.org will assess the benefi t and value of each project, the cost, how it can be fi nanced, and then make decisions about which are the right ones to move forward with. We must ensure that each project is led by the right person as the leader will be crucial to its success. Some of these projects will happen quickly, some might take three years, fi ve years or more to show results.” European Athletics needs to build There are some key areas in which it is on the success of clear that action needs to be taken and events such as the indeed in some of these areas work has 2005 European already begun, as Milz explains: Athletics Indoor Championships in

8 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of the EAA 3|05 UPDATE INSIDE EAA signs agreement with coaches association

The 28th European Athletics Coaches Association (EACA) Congress, held in Sofi a, Bulgaria, on 4-6 November 2005, featured the signing of a formal cooperation agreement between the EACA and the EAA.

The Memorandum of Understanding, “As we move forward with the ‘European EAA Vice President signed by President Hansjörg Wirz and Athletics – the need for change’ project, Agoston Schulek (left) and EACA Vice President Agoston Schulek on behalf it is important that all groups in the sport President Frank of the EAA and President Frank Dick on work together to achieve our common Dick sign the behalf of the EACA, provides for the EAA goals,” he added. Memorandum of to continue both its fi nancial support Understanding for the operation of the EACA and the “This is an historic moment for coaches,” granting of scholarships for coaches from said Dick, “and we are aware that we are EAA Member Federations to attend the privileged to be working together with the annual EACA Congress. EAA for the good of European Athletics. With the EAA’s support, the EACA will be In return, the head coaches of all able to increase the value of the service it EAA Member Federations will receive provides to the coaching profession.” membership of the EACA, including access to the EACA’s password protected 131 coaches from 30 countries The EAA provided scholarships covering website of coaching information. participated in the Congress, which was the congress fee, food and accommodation entitled “The Winning Difference.” In for coaches from 22 of its Member “We recognise the value of coaches and addition to fi ve keynote speakers, the Federations to attend. the key role they play in our sport,” said programme featured fi ve international Wirz. “This agreement enhances the long expert led workshop groups, each of To access the EACA membership for their standing partnership we have enjoyed which met for fi ve 45 minute sessions head coach (or other representative), EAA with the EACA and demonstrates the over the three-day congress. One of the Member Federations should contact EACA EAA’s commitment to cooperating closely main themes running through the various Membership Manager Lorna Boothe on with them to develop coaches.” activities was the planning of training [email protected]. Federations may also programmes to achieve consistent, high- contact EAA Member Services Manager quality performances under the conditions Bill Glad on bill.glad@european-athletics. of the changing athletics calendar. org for information.

Bubka receives honorary doctorate

Former world and Olympic pole vault champion Sergiy Bubka (UKR) has been made a Doctor Honoris Causa by the National Sports Academy Vasil Levski in Sofi a, Bulgaria. The award was conferred by the Rector of the NSA Prof. Lachezar Dimitrov during opening ceremony of the EACA Congress.

In his acceptance address, Bubka, who is now a Member of the IOC and an IAAF Council member, described his athletics career from his introduction to the sport as a school boy through to his greatest victories.

Bubka still holds the men’s pole vault world record at 6.14m (6.15m indoors). He was the fi rst vaulter in the world to clear six metres in 1988 and he set a total of 35 world records (18 indoors and 17 outdoors) during his career. He was world champion six times from 1983 to 1997 and won Olympic Gold in 1988.

UPDATE 3|05 Newsletter of the EAA www.european-athletics.org 9 FACTS & FIGURES EAA offi ce staff: a guide

Emily Lewis is Communication Manager and her responsibilities include overseeing the media services at EAA events, ensuring that there is regular communication about the EAA’s events and activities to the European Athletics family, the media and the public and coordinating the content on the EAA website.

The newest member of the team is Sales and Marketing Manager Lars Kaiser who started work at the EAA at the beginning of December. Before joining the EAA, Lars, who is German, worked as Marketing Director at men’s clothing fi rm Dressmann and prior to that at Kappa Germany. He speaks German, English, French and Norwegian There have been a number of changes in The responsibilities of Corporate Services and also knows some Spanish and the EAA staff over the last year or so. We Manager Christiane Maillard and Chinese. hope that the guide below will help to Corporate Services Coordinator Christelle explain who does what at the head offi ce Thonney include the organisation of the Lars is responsible for sales and marketing in Lausanne. European Athletics Congress, Calendar on behalf of the EAA, with his priority Conference and EAA Council meetings to sell the EAA’s commercial rights and The leader of the offi ce team of 12 is as well as general offi ce and fi nancial oversee the delivery of rights for existing Director General Christian Milz who took administration. They also take care of the partners. up his post at the beginning of September. EAA offi ce and protocol during events. Christian’s responsibilities include leading Lars will also work on the creation of new the EAA’s operational activities, promoting Member Services Manager Bill Glad’s marketing concepts with sports marketing the EAA and European Athletics and role is to look after the needs of the expert Patrick Nally, who has recently fostering good relations with EAA Member EAA’s Member Federations, including the been contracted by the EAA to assist with Federations, the IAAF and other partners. management of the EAA’s development the development of a new and innovative programme. He also coordinates the marketing plan for European Athletics. Event Manager Ivan Khodabakhsh is Development Committee and the related The EAA’s Marketing Consultant Tony responsible for the overall coordination of Commission and Working Groups. Webb will also work closely with Lars EAA events and liaison with event partners. on knowledge transfer over the coming He is currently supported by two Event months. In addition, Tony will retain a role Coordinators, Bernadette Brun Brenger in monitoring the organisation of EAA and Weronika Maslowska, with a third to major events up until the 2006 European be recruited in the near future. The Event Athletics Championships in Gothenburg. Coordinators are allocated specifi c events to oversee and also have their own areas Serge Vittoz has been carrying out an of expertise. Bernadette is responsible for internship at the EAA since May 2005 EAA branding, hospitality and sponsor and has worked on a number of different liaison, Weronika for logistics including EAA Treasurer: projects, mainly related to Competition. the Guest Management System and the new contact details new coordinator will have responsibility The EAA also works closely with Nick for matters relating to television. Karel Pilny’s new offi ce address is: Russi’s company Mediasprint, who provide web services including the EAA Competition Manager Célia Mendes and KONVERGA PRAHA Limited website and the Guest Management and Competition Coordinator Marcel Wakim Havlickova 15 Online Entry System. Nick also fulfi ls the are responsible for managing the EAA 110 00 Praha 1 role of technology coordinator at EAA competition system, including offi cial rules events, overseeing the EAA’s Technical and regulations, anti-doping, records and Partners. statistics as well as the coordination of the Tel: +420 296 332 873 EAA’s non-Top events. They also coordinate Fax: +420 296 332 874 And of course everyone at the EAA would the Competition related Committee, Email: [email protected] like to wish former General Secretary Till Commissions and Working Groups. Lufft all the best in his retirement.

10 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of the EAA 3|05 UPDATE FACTS & FIGURES

EAA Permit Meetings 2006 European Champion Clubs Cup for Juniors Indoor Meetings 25 Jan Elite Pedro’s Cup /POL 4 Feb Gubernator Cup Samara/RUS 4-5 Feb Reval Hotels Cup 2006 Tallinn/EST 18 Feb Zepter-Pole Vault Stars /UKR IMPRESSUM 26 Feb Eduard Grigoryan Memorial Moscow/RUS (Juniors) European Athletic Association Walking Meetings Association Européenne 25 March Dudinska 50-ka Dudince/SVK d‘Athlétisme 08 April Podebrady 2006 Podebrady/CZE President: Hansjörg Wirz SUI 17 June 7th Royal Leamington Spa G.P. Leamington/GBR Vice Presidents: Walking Valentin Balakhnichev RUS, Agoston Schulek HUN Premium Meetings Treasurer: Karel Pilny CZE 1 June VI European Athletic Festival Bydgoszcz/POL Director General: Christian Milz SUI 3 June Meeting Atletismo Huelva Huelva/ESP 2006 Offi ce: 5 June Memorial Josefa Odlozila /CZE Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 18 6 June Memorial Primo Nebiolo Torino/ITA CH-1003 Lausanne Switzerland 10 June Meeting Lille-Métropole Lille/FRA Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 50 13 (or 27) Luzern Spitzenleichtathletik Luzern/SUI Fax +41 (0)21 313 43 51 June offi [email protected] 18 June 52 Memorial Janusz Warsaw/POL www.european-athletics.org Kusocinski The European Champion Clubs Cup for Juniors matches took “UPDATE” is published by the 20 June Gran premio /ESP place on 17 September in Belgrade (SCG) and Tuzla (BIH) for European Athletic Association “Gobierno de Aragon” Groups A and B and on 24 September in Frauenfeld (SUI) for 24 June Memorial Znamensky Kazan/RUS Group C. Russian clubs were the winners of both the men’s Co-ordination: 01 July 55th Bupa Ireland Cork City Cork/IRL Emily Lewis and women’s competitions in Group A – SCA Moscow for EAA Communication Manager Sports the men and SC Viktorya Lipetsk for the women. However, it Phone +41 (0)21 313 4357 21 July Vardinoyannia Rethymno/GRE was in the Group C match that an ECCCJ record was broken emily.lewis@ 22 July KBC Nigth of Athletics Heusden/BEL when European Junior champion Margus Hunt (EST) threw european-athletics.org 24 July Olympic Meeting Thessaloniki/GRE 60.92m in the discus. Text, Photos: 2006 Bill Glad GBR, Gladys Chai 28 July Tallinn 2006 Tallinn/EST von der Laage GER, Andy 22 Aug Intersport Gugl-Meeting Linz/AUT CEO Conference 2006 Heading GBR, Iris Hensel GER, 30 Aug 42° Palio Citta della Quercia Rovereto/ITA Tommy Holl SWE, Mirko Jalava FIN, Ursula Kaiser GER, Emily The next European Athletics Chief Executive Offi cers Outdoor Meetings Lewis GBR, Christian Milz SUI, Conference will be staged from 5-7 April 2006. Tommy Holl SWE, Hansjörg 26 May Anhalt 2006 Dessau/GER Wirz SUI 27 May Cup 2006 Riga/LAT The Conference theme will be “Opportunities for Athletics” 27-28 May International Combined Events Maribor/SLO Design, Production: and a number of high profi le speakers will be invited to address Meeting AMK Atelier für Marketing the participants about practical ways in which federations can und Kommunikation 3 June Papafl essia Kalamata/GRE strengthen their positions and develop the sport. Amstutzstrasse 14 3 June 61st Cezmi Or Memorial /TUR CH-6010 Kriens, Switzerland 4 June 23. International U23 Olympic Schwechat/AUT Phone +41 (0)41 320 00 72 “We conducted a survey of more than one third of the EAA Meeting Fax +41 (0)41 320 00 79 Member Federations to get an idea of the most appropriate [email protected] 23 June 11th International Athletic Velenje/SLO theme and the elements, such as the discussion workshops, Meeting Print: they would like to see included in the conference,” says EAA 25 June 12th International Meeting of Funchal/POR Multicolor Print AG Madeira Council Member Jonas Egilsson, who is leading a project CH-6340 Baar, Switzerland 01 July Kaunas 2006 Kaunas/LTU group developing the Conference programme. “Our aim is 02 July Meeting Città di Padova Padova/ITA to build on the success of the previous editions in Nymburk, 05 July 34th Gran Premio Diputación Salamanca/ESP Czech Republic (2001) and Budapest, (2003).” de Salamanca 13 July Karelia Games /FIN The operational leader from each Member Federation will be 16 July Savo Games Lapinlathi/FIN invited by the EAA to take part in the conference. Federations 17 July Venizelia Chania/GRE may send additional participants at their own expense. 27 Aug Athletic Bridge – Banska Bystrica/SVK Banská Bystrica Details of the venue and programme for the Conference will 29 Aug Athletic Bridge – Dubnica/SVK be available on www.european-athletics.org after offi cial Dubnica nad Váhom invitations are sent out in early 2006.

UPDATE 3|05 Newsletter of the EAA www.european-athletics.org 11 FINISH “I want to help athletics be more popular again”

German freelance journalist Ursula Kaiser talks to Golden League jackpot winner Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS)

The moment Tatyana Lebedeva posed in Her fi rst competition was in 1991 when she for the photographers was like a was 14 - her best attempt was 12.91m. In symbol: she was sitting in the triple jump 1993 she participated in a training camp pit, letting the sand gush through her on the Black Sea and decided to move fi ngers and laughing. The Russian athlete to Volgograd to train. In 1998 she was from Volgograd was the only one who selected for the Russian national team won at each of the six Golden League for the fi rst time. In the same year she meetings and earned a 1 million US Dollar won her fi rst prize money – about 800 US jackpot. Dollars. “The feeling was incredible. I was so excited, I even couldn’t sleep the whole The 29-year-old jumper didn’t start at the night. It was great to earn money from IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, jumping.” even though she was the big favourite as she suffered an Achilles tendon injury at But at the beginning of her career not the Golden League meeting in . “So everything was great. The young lady got I had to decide, I was afraid that both “airs and graces” because she noticed things were not possible,” she explained. very fast that she could travel a lot and Her choice was the best one for her and earn a lot of money. But her coaches she could fi ll up her family’s bank account brought her down to earth very fast in a great way. But she also thinks of and she worked hard until she won the other people and other projects. “I want Olympic title in – but not in the to give ten percent of the money to the triple jump (here she was third), she won kindergarten and the school I was a pupil the long jump! at,” she said. “Maybe I can help to bring some children to my sport.” In Volgograd she often trains with pole vault world record holder Yelena Lebedeva has already earned a lot of Isinbayeva and the Olympic high jump money in the past, but she can’t compare champion . The three that with her success in this year. However women had planned to build three houses she is not only happy about it, she is also side by side, the land and buildings were afraid. “There exists a lot of corruption promised by the leaders of the city. “But and a lot of jealous friends in my home at this time they had an election campaign country and I am very afraid about raids and after that nobody was talking about it and attacks on my family,” she said. anymore,” said Lebedeva. Now she is able to fi nance her building herself! Her apartment in Volgograd has been burgled in the past and now she wants Lebedeva also loves to travel. She wants to take precautions. She wants to install to see Asia, Africa and Latin America. a monitoring camera and if it is necessary And she likes parties and celebrations. she will get a bodyguard for her three-year- At the end of the season she visited the old daughter, Anastasia. “If someone robs Caribbean – to relax – because now she me, I can run away, but I want to protect has started to prepare to defend her title my family,” she said. These are the shady says today. Her mother, a former gymnast, wanted her daughter at the IAAF World Indoor Championships sides of the success. But Lebedeva knows to become a gymnast too, but she wasn’t very enthusiastic about in Moscow. a lot about this hard life and is used to it. this sport. “I just have to deal with these problems,” “I want to help athletics be more popular she added. She was a child with a lot of energy. “I was arguing with the again in Russia,” she says. Tatyana boys all the time and if my brother couldn’t help me I ran away. Lebedeva will fi ght for her sport. She Lebedeva learnt during her childhood to This is maybe was the reason why I became so fast,” she laughs. knows what it is to fi ght since she was a fi ght, to defend herself and not to give up. She went to a sports school and quickly attracted attention child and it seems the Olympic champion Born in the provincial town of Sterlitamak because she could jump very well and very far. Long and triple is still a little rebel. And obviously it is not in Western Russia, she grew up with her jump started to become her passion. “Today I prefer triple jump. the worst thing for her. elder brother, but without her father. “It It is more interesting and a bigger challenge than the long jump,” was a diffi cult, but good childhood,” she says the young mother.

12 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of the EAA 3|05 UPDATE