Best of Europe Gather in Stockholm
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Your Sport for Life Newsletter of European Athletics 2 | 11 June INSIDE TRACK 18 – 19 JUNE Best of Europe gather in Stockholm Hansjörg Wirz re-elected European Athletics President Your Sport for Life WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT IMPRESSUM European Athletics Association Européenne d’Athlétisme President: Addressing the needs Hansjörg Wirz Vice Presidents: Jose Luis de Carlos Karel Pilny Jean Gracia of an ever-changing Director General: Christian Milz Office: Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 18 society CH-1003 Lausanne Switzerland Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 50 Hansjörg Wirz | President, European Athletics Fax +41 (0)21 313 43 51 [email protected] www.european-athletics.org “Inside Track” is published by At our Congress in London in April, the 50 When I became the President of European look forward to a fantastic third edition of European Athletics European Athletics Member Federations Athletics 12 years ago, I wanted to address the SPAR European Team Championships Co-ordination: came together to agree on the leadership the fact that society is changing rapidly in Stockholm in June and a milestone James Mulligan of our sport for the next four years. One and that we must adapt. The demands European Athletics Championships next Aditya Kumar of the results of our democratic elections on people’s time are much greater these year. European Athletics Communication Department is that the members have put their faith days, with athletics competing with many Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 57 in me to lead European Athletics for a more sports and other leisure activities. Helsinki 2012 will not only provide our [email protected] further four years. I am, of course, pleased Thus, I wanted our sport to address athletes with another opportunity to to receive the support of our Member these changes. To me, this meant making become “European champions,” with Text, Photos: James Mulligan, Aditya Federations and I thank them for this. our sport more attractive to sports fans all the benefits associated with this, but Kumar, Bill Glad, Phil Minshull, watching on television and in the stadium with it taking place at an opportune time Hansjörg Wirz, Christian Milz, I am also happy to welcome our returning and to youngsters. During my time as before the Olympic Games it will play an Andy Heading, Picture Alliance and new Vice-Presidents, Council President, we have been constantly important part in the journey of athletes members, and Competition Committee looking at different ways to work on our ahead of London 2012. Design, Production: AMK Atelier für Marketing and Development Committee. I look competitions in order to make them more und Kommunikation forward to working together with you all appealing to existing fans and new fans. Indeed, we have in place an enviable Amstutzstrasse 14 in these exciting years ahead. structure for our showcase competitions. CH-6010 Kriens, Switzerland After my re-election in 2007, I reiterated But I have also seen a need during my time Phone +41 (0)41 320 00 72 Fax +41 (0)41 320 00 79 I have always said that this will be my the fact that there were two main as President for other competitions that [email protected] last term as President and also said that improvements to make to the competition develop the new generation. I think over the projects I have been working on need system: the introduction of an additional the years we have found a good mix and Print: this time to further develop. It is now my European Athletics Championships by balance in these two important areas and Multicolor Print AG CH-6340 Baar, Switzerland responsibility to work hard to serve the 2012 and the change in structure from have come to a good result. We will not Member Federations who have entrusted the European Cup to the European stop in our search, though, for innovation Cover page: me to lead European Athletics these years Team Championships by 2009. We have when it comes to competition. Best of Europe descend ahead. achieved both these goals. And now we can on Stockholm for the 3rd SPAR European Team Championships 2 WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT 9 HELSINKI 2012 12 DEVELOPMENT Addressing the needs of an ever- Major sponsorship boost Club Working Group elected changing society 10 Gateshead 2013 14 DIRECTOR GENERAL’S STATE 4 STOCKHOLM 2011 Gateshead to host 4th European Team OF THE SPORT Will Russia rule again at the 2011 SPAR Championships Keeping track with the future of our European Team Championships? sport 11 LONDON 2011 7. PARIS 2011 European Athletics Congress 16 COMING NExT Marvellous hosts and magnificent Ostrava and Tallinn will provide the competition in Paris stepping stone to global success 2 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|11 INSIDE TRACK WORD from THE PRESIDENT e Lif or f t Spor our Y Addressing the needs of an ever-changing French triple jumper Teddy Tamgho set the floor on fire with society a sensational world record at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris. It was also clear during my time as have shown leadership over the past 12 and friendship combined with unrelenting President that we needed to create a clear years and I will continue to strive towards hard work, we were committed to Twin Pillar strategy. On the one hand, we consolidating our progress in these areas organising a successful European had our flagship events that inspire and and continue to work on developing the Athletics Indoor Championships that motivate millions and give our athletes a second of our Twin Pillars, namely our would prove truly memorable to athletics chance to shine and compete at the highest development activities that are an integral fans across Europe – and in this endeavour level against the best of Europe. But on the part of our ongoing strategy to make we succeeded. other hand, activities involving education athletics “Your Sport for Life.” and youth development, corporate social I think it is fair to say that the fantastic responsibility, sustainability, health and Over the past 12 years, we have also performances throughout the three days well-being needed to be developed. The developed strong relations with our and the amazing atmosphere of Paris question I had was “Outside of high- International Partners, including SPAR 2011 will live long in the memories performance athletics, how is our sport and the European Broadcasting Union. of all athletics fans. I look forward serving society?” We are working hard We continue to boast strong television to experiencing many more magical towards addressing this question. For exposure across Europe for our major moments at European Athletics events example, the European Athletics Congress events such as the European Athletics during my remaining time as President. in London approved our Youth Strategy Championships and European Athletics which addresses the topic of bringing Indoor Championships. younger people into our sport. Putting this strategy into practice is an important Most recently, we have worked hard area in the next four years. with the Paris 2011 LOC and the French Athletic Federation to produce a world- Life and our sport is constantly moving. If class event at the Palais Omnisports of we are not ready to adapt our situation to Paris-Bercy, despite facing challenges society then we die. I am proud of how we along the way. In a spirit of camaraderie INSIDE TRACK 2|11 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 3 Your Sport for Life StockholM 2011 Will Russia rule again at the 2011 SPAR European Team Championships? Who can defeat Russia this year after her emphatic success at the 2nd European Team Championships in the Norwegian city of Bergen 12 months ago? asks Phil Minshull. 18 – 19 JUNE It’s a tall order for any country to topple sadly be absent in Stockholm due to injury and French athlete that could provide the them, taking into account Russia’s history but her words and determination live individual highlight of the Championships of producing outstanding athletes and on and memorably helped motivate her as Britain’s outdoor world and European teams that in the last two decades have German team mates to victory two years champion Phillips Idowu faces his regularly topped the medal tables at ago. counterpart from across the English major events, just as they did at the Channel Teddy Tamgho, the reigning 2010 European Athletics Championships Last year, Germany had to settle for third world and European champion indoors. and 2011 European Athletics Indoor place but, in place of Friedrich, it could be Both men confirmed that the weekend of Championships. the newly-minted hammer world record 18–19 June is in their diaries. holder Betty Heidler who will act as the In 2010, Russia scored 379.5 points across unofficial cheerleader for her team. “We’re going head-to-head at the the two days at the SPAR European Team European Team Championships in Championships, winning by a massive 62.5 “I’m really excited about competing in Stockholm. With the possibility of points and notching up 13 individual wins. Stockholm. I’ve never competed there competition hotting up and world before and you can’t help but look records being broken, I would definitely At the time of writing, the composition forward to performing for your country watch this space,” said Idowu, whetting of any of the 12 teams is not known – in a stadium with such heritage. I’m athletics’ fans appetites for their duel in although many of Europe’s top athletes feeling optimistic,” said Heidler recently. the Swedish capital. have expressed a desire to fly the flag for their country in Stockholm – but Russia is Great Britain and France have completed The nations competing in the 2011 SPAR expected to field many of their athletes the top four in both of the last two years European Team Championships will be: who picked up 10 gold medals in the and will almost certainly have strong Russia, Great Britain, Germany, France, Catalan sun last summer and another six teams as well.