Your Sport for Life

Newsletter of European Athletics 2 | 13 November INSIDE TRACK

Tallinn hosts Memorable Awards Night Europe gets ready for Belgrade 2013 Your Sport for Life WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

IMPRESSUM

European Athletics Association Européenne d’Athlétisme

President: Hansjörg Wirz Vice Presidents: Jose Luis de Carlos Karel Pilny Jean Gracia Hansjörg Wirz | President, European Athletics Director General: Christian Milz

Office: Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 18 CH-1003 Challenges and opportunities Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 50 Fax +41 (0)21 313 43 51 [email protected] www.european-athletics.org in a busy year “Inside Track” is published by European Athletics

Co-ordination: We approach the end of a very intensive year for European During my various discussions, I have highlighted the James Mulligan Athletics. Indeed, between all our events in 2013 and my success of multi-purpose such as Letzigrund François Schrurs European Athletics commitments as President, I can confidently say it has been in , which was used during the 2008 European Communication Department one of the busiest years of my tenure in terms of travel. Championships in football, is home to the annual Weltklasse Phone +41 (0)21 313 43 57 IAAF meeting, and next year will host the [email protected] An important issue that I have addressed on my travels European Athletics Championships. has been maintaining existing athletics facilities within Text, Photos: James Mulligan, François our sport. I have been involved in discussions in Albania, It is clear that football is such an important influence and Schrurs, Bill Glad, Phil Armenia, Belgium, Lithuania, Moldova and this consideration for countries when they are planning such Minshull, Hansjörg Wirz, year regards this issue. Some situations have been resolved sporting facilities, and we must work towards an increased Christian Milz, Andy Heading, for the benefit of athletics, while some are ongoing. dialogue with our friends in football to see how we can co- Michael Butcher, Richard Lewis exist in this area. Design, Production: I was among those who wrote letters to the Council of AMK Atelier für Marketing Hengelo urging them not to sell the Fanny Blankers-Koen Football also has a profound influence in our forward und Kommunikation Stadion to a local football club. The sale, proposed in order planning for events. For the European Athletics Amstutzstrasse 14 to save the municipality money, would have seen the athletics Championships Zurich 2014, we long ago set the dates CH-6010 Kriens, Switzerland Phone +41 (0)41 320 00 72 track in the ripped up and the end of the FBK Games for 12-17 August during which UEFA has now scheduled Fax +41 (0)41 320 00 79 – one of the most famous meetings in the world. football matches.

Print: It would have been a great loss to the Dutch athletics Again, we must be more active in discussions with other Multicolor Print AG CH-6340 Baar, Switzerland community, especially considering the European Athletics sports so that we can avoid such clashes in the future. Championships will take place in in 2016. Follow us: Our work behind the scenes in relation to the aforementioned >> Facebook I am glad to say that the Council voted unanimously against topics is set against a backdrop of a strong political influence selling the stadium and so the track is retained and the FBK that continues to see financial cuts to our sport in certain Games will continue. countries. We must take action in these areas, and we can only find a stabilised position if we have wider recognition I also recently returned from a visit to Lithuania to meet with of our sport. the Prime Minister to discuss the future of athletics facilities >> Twitter in the country. The main topic was Lithuania’s National We have had a meeting with the new leader of the European Stadium. I shared my experiences of the construction of Commission’s Sport Unit to discuss what the EU can do for multi-sports facilities in Switzerland and Europe. During European Athletics. We presented to them what our position our talks I underlined European Athletics’ position on the and thinking is for the future. Indeed, we must position development of multiple-use stadiums. We believe these are ourselves credibly when working with the EU. needed not only for professional athletes but to promote >> YouTube interest in all sports and cultural events. The benefits for public employment and health with such facilities are evident.

2 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|13 INSIDE TRACK Word from the President e Lif or f t Spor our Y

Sustained recognition media-wise is also important. There are tremendous changes in public and private television at the moment. We must analyse the whole situation of where television is in the future and in what direction it will move. Our main events retain a primetime position SPAR continues as principle on television but we see a worrying trend of other sports coverage moving to sponsor of European Athletics specialised sports channels.

Wider recognition of European Athletics European Athletics and SPAR International are pleased to needs to come at all levels of our sport. announce that they have extended their existing four-year Our Constitution states that we must work contract by one year until the end of 2016. to develop, promote and foster the sport in all forms in Europe, including track & SPAR International, the world's largest “With the invaluable contribution of field, road running, race walking, cross organisation of independent food SPAR, we will continue to work hard country running and mountain running. retailers, has been the principal sponsor of to reach an even stronger position for European Athletics since 1996. athletics in Europe.” To this end, we are working hard in the area of road running, as the natural and The addendum to the current contract Christian Milz, Director General of logical authority in this area, to be in a incorporates the following European European Athletics, also welcomed situation whereby runners consider that Athletics events: the news of the contract extension: they are in our sport and are recognised • Amsterdam 2016 European Athletics “The added value that SPAR brings to as being part of athletics. Championships promoting athletics in Europe thanks to its • SPAR European Cross Country thousands of shops is of huge importance We are moving in the right direction in this Championships 2016 (Host TBC) to us. area and in the area of high performance as we come to the end of this busy and The existing 2012–2015 contract includes “We are particularly pleased to be coming productive year. I would like to thank our the following upcoming European to the ‘home’ of SPAR in 2016 when the long-standing partners SPAR, OMEGA, Athletics events: European Athletics Championships are LE GRUYÈRE AOP and EUROVISION • Zurich 2014 European Athletics hosted in Amsterdam, the location of for their support as we work to reach the Championships SPAR’s headquarters.” high quality, and requirements expected of • Prague 2015 European Athletics Indoor us as we continue in our mission. Championships Dr. Gordon Campbell, SPAR International • SPAR European Cross Country Managing Director, said, “European Championships (Belgrade 2013, Athletics events are a great platform for Samokov 2014, Paray-le-Monial 2015) building the SPAR brand worldwide. We • European Athletics Team are very much looking forward to the Championships (Braunschweig 2014, next European Athletics Championships Cheboksary 2015) in Zurich in 2014 and then Amsterdam in 2016. Hansjörg Wirz, President of European Athletics, said, “We are very pleased that “Through our partnership with European SPAR will continue as our main partner Athletics, the SPAR brand is closely through till the end of 2016. The support aligned with dynamic people competing that they have shown athletics over the at the pinnacle of their sporting careers years has been of immense importance on the continent. This, combined with to us. our support of national and local sporting events, makes our partnership with European Athletics the perfect fit.”

INSIDE TRACK 2|13 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 3 Your Sport for Life SPAR European Cross Country Championships

4 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|13 INSIDE TRACK SPAR European Cross Country Championships SPAR European Cross Country Championships e Lif or f t Spor our Y Belgrade pointers

The SPAR European Cross Country Championships celebrates country’s first medallist in more than a its 20th edition this year and for the first time it will be staged decade. She will not be worried about bad in Serbia, the 15th different nation to stage the event since it weather either as she spends most of the winter training on skis. was inaugurated in 1994, with the capital Belgrade expected to welcome more than 500 athletes from across the continent. could have a big say in the Here are some things to look forward to: destination of the medals in the junior men’s race. Three of last year’s scoring quartet that took the gold medals, as well Fionnuala Britton has her chance to as their two other men on the podium, make history. The Irish runner took the are still eligible to compete as juniors in honours in 2011 and 2012 and is one Belgrade. of three women to have won the senior women’s title twice, along with Great Siblings featured in several of last year’s Britain’s Paula Radcliffe and Hayley Yelling. races. had the Dini twins Samuele Britton’s third consecutive success would and Lorenzo, with both men taking make her arguably the greatest female silver medals at this summer’s European runner ever to contest the Championships. Athletics Junior Championships, and the Crippa brothers Yemaneberhan and is still recovering after Ulad have been in impressive early season Nekagenet, the latter recently winning making his marathon debut at the Venice form. the junior title at the World Mountain Marathon in October but he showed his Running Championships. Norway had the strength to win in difficult conditions last Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal could provide Ingebrigtsen brothers, Henrik and Filip. year in Budapest. Can the Italian put up as another Scandinavian focal point. The How many brothers and sisters will be impressive a performance in the defence 2009 European junior champion on making this year’s Championships a family of his title as he did to win it? track and cross country has sometimes matter? struggled with injuries in recent years but Serhiy Lebid has never missed a SPAR is now in her best form and made the Belgrade in December is cold! It is the European Cross Country Championships IAAF World Championships 5000m final most easterly venue ever to be the host and won the senior men’s title nine times! this summer. She could challenge in the of the SPAR European Cross Country Now 38, he is determined to continue senior women’s race. Championships. Long range forecasts his streak and get back in the top 10, at suggest that there is a possibility of snow least, after the disappointment of failing Oona Kettunen finished 15th last year in on the day and temperatures which are to finish in 2011 and coming home only the junior women’s race but the Finnish unlikely to climb much above zero during 15th last year. teenager impressed when winning the the five hours of competition. The weather European Athletics Junior Championships could play a part in deciding the medals. Amela Terzic capped the end of her junior 3000m steeplechase gold medal this career by taking the junior women’s title summer and she will try to become her in Budapest last year, the first ever gold medal at the Championships for Serbia. Now running on home soil, the local heroine will be the centre of attention in the women’s U23 race, racing against women up to two years older.

Emelia Gorecka won the junior title two years ago but was beaten by Terzic in 2012. Can the British runner, who won the 2013 European Athletics Junior Championships 3000m gold medal in Rieti this summer, become the first junior to regain a title?

Scandinavian success stories have been few and sometimes far between at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships but this year the men’s U23 race, won last year by Norway’s Henrik Ingebrigtsen, could see some more Viking domination. Ingebrigtsen is still eligible to defend his title while his compatriot Ørjan Grønnevig and Denmark’s Abdi Hakin

INSIDE TRACK 2|13 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 5 Your Sport for Life Awards Night

Bondarenko, Hejnová, Bekric´, Hinriksdottir crowned at European Athletics Awards Night ’s Bohdan Bondarenko and ’s Zuzana Hejnová were named European Athletes of the Year on Saturday at the European Athletics Awards Night in Tallinn, Estonia.

Serbia’s Emir Bekric´ and Iceland’s Anita Bekric´, 22, won at the European Athletics European Athletics Member Federations Hinriksdottir claimed the European U23 Championships and then finished as well as an expert European Athletics Athletics Rising Star Awards. third at the IAAF World Championships panel, with the results from each group with a national record of 48.05, the of voters counting for one quarter of the With the European Athletics Awards Night second fastest European U23 time ever. athlete's final score. being shown live on television for the first time in history and streamed live across The 17-year-old Hinriksdottir was a the world, all four athletes were present to winner at both the IAAF World Youth Men’s 2013 European collect their prizes in a glittering ceremony Championships, where she set a Athlete of the Year Top 3 at the Seaplane Harbour. championship record, and the European 1. Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR) Athletics Junior Championships. 2. (GBR) High jumper Bondarenko, 24, was 3. Pawel Fajdek (POL) voted the men’s winner after a season Along with live television coverage on where he won at the 2013 IAAF World Estonian Television, the Awards Night was Women’s 2013 European Championships and also the Diamond also shown on Icelandic Television, Czech Athlete of the Year Top 3 Race. His 2.41m jumps at the IAAF Television and Serbian Television. 1. Zuzana Hejnová (CZE) Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, 2. Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) and also in , were the best in the More than 16,000 fans voted on the 3. Valeria Straneo (ITA) world for 19 years. European Athlete of the Year and Rising Star Awards at www.facebook.com/ Men’s 2013 European Athletics The 26-year-old Hejnová, specialist in the EuropeanAthletics, while 163 members of Rising Star Top 3 400m hurdles, won all 13 of her races in the Association Internationale de la Presse 1. Emir Bekri ´c (SRB) 2013, including her heat and semi-final Sportive (AIPS) from 54 countries also 2. Adam Gemili (GBR) before triumphing at the IAAF World voted through www.aipsmedia.com. 3. (NOR) Championships, and also at all seven IAAF Diamond League meetings. The winning athletes were decided by Women's 2013 Rising Star Top 3 counting votes from the fans, media, 1. Anita Hinriksdottir (ISL) 2. Dafne Schippers (NED) 3. Amela Terzic (SRB) 6 www.european-athletics.org Awards Night e e Lif Lif or or f f t t Spor Spor our our Y Y

Coaches rewarded for their 2013 achievements

European Athletics has named a total of 49 coaches to receive its 2013 European Athletics Coaching Awards.

The winners, who come from 26 countries, said President Wirz. “They are examples were honoured at the recent European for coaches across Europe.” Athletics Awards Night in Tallinn, Estonia. Bo Berndtsson of Norway was selected The awards consist of a certificate and a by draw to join Estonia’s Milvi Viss and European Athletics silver pin. Toomas Merila in receiving the first of this year’s awards on behalf of all the winners Each Member Federation can nominate from European Athletics President one male and one female coach per Hansjörg Wirz. year for the award based on the criteria “excellence in coaching”. Twenty-three The remainder of the winners will federations nominated coaches this year. receive their awards in national In addition, coaches whose athletes win a ceremonies organised by their gold medal in a senior European Athletics federations. Championship automatically receive the award. “I congratulate Bo, Milvi and Toomas and all the winners To date a total of 208 coaches have been of this year’s awards,” given the awards, which began in 2010.

Women Leaders active role models in athletics

European Athletics has named the 22 winners of its 2013 Women’s Leadership Awards recognised at the European Athletics Awards Night in Tallinn, Estonia.

Each of the winners was selected by her The awards consisted of a certificate, national athletics federation based on a European Athletics silver pin and a the criteria “work and accomplishments, limited edition print created by Marjolaine other than in competition, that are a Perreten, a student at Lausanne's Ecole significant contribution that serves as an Romande d'arts et de Communication example of leadership and other values of (ERACOM). the .” The biennial awards were created in 2009 Mirjana Stojanovic of Serbia and Estonia’s as the centrepiece of European Athletics' Eva Kunigas were presented with the first strategy to promote the development of awards by European Athletics President women leaders and gender equity in the Hansjörg Wirz after being selected to sport. represent all the winners at the ceremony. The others received their awards in In addition to the awards, European ceremonies organised by their respective Athletics awarded three scholarships federations. to young women identified by their federations as future leaders for a “I congratulate Mirjana and Eva, they leadership development programme that perfectly represent the other winners of will be delivered in 2014. The scholarship the awards,” said President Wirz. “Each of winners are Yana Kasova of Bulgaria, them is a wonderful role model for young Nanna Brandt of Denmark, and Melissa women in our sport and they are showing Robertson of Great Britain. how athletics can contribute to people’s quality of life through competition, fitness, education and community service.”

INSIDE TRACK 2|13 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 7 Your Sport for Life Awards Night

Bohdan Bondarenko: “I won’t sleep before …” It was the summer that changed the life of Bohdan Bondarenko – and after being rewarded for his success in Tallinn he revealed the desire that is driving him to something even more spectacular.

Ukrainian Bondarenko, 24, the newly- He has attempted to go higher this with Patrik Sjoberg's European record of crowned Male European Athlete of the summer but as he celebrated his success 2.42m, which has lasted since 1987, also Year, won the world title in Moscow, in Estonia he said: “This year we had under major threat. he won the Diamond Race and took many great high jumpers who could jump his personal best to 2.41m, a height he 2.40m and higher – I think that any of His moment could arrive at the European cleared on two occasions and that made them can jump the world record height. Athletics Championships in Zurich in him the joint-third best of all-time. But I won’t sleep before I have cleared the August where Bondarenko will be looking world record, maybe next year.” to add to his Moscow gold. Now Bondarenko wants to be the very best and break the world record of 2.45m It is sometimes easy for a sportsman or which Cuba's set in woman to make a prediction for the sake Salamanca in July 1993. of it but Bondarenko has shown he has the talent to aim for those major heights,

Zuzana Hejnová: “Truly wonderful”

Zuzana Hejnová of the Czech Republic was named the Female European Athlete of the Year after her extraordinary unbeaten spell which saw her win the 400m hurdles gold at the World Championships and also take the Diamond Race title.

In Tallinn, Henjova reflected on the That was shown in the consistency Hejnová, 26, added: “Last autumn I joined summer and said that 2013 “was truly of her performances where she was Dalibor Kupka’s training group and trained wonderful.” just unstoppable, with so much speed more with male athletes. Tough training throughout the whole race, not just over gave me more self-confidence. I didn’t She added: “I would have never expected the punishing final barriers. believe that during my career I could be that everything could be so easy. I was elected European Athlete of the Year.” healthy and after each competition, I She took herself from Olympic bronze in felt stronger not only physically but also 2012 to world gold in 2013 with a change mentally.” in her training proving important.

8 www.european-athletics.org Awards Night e e Lif Lif or or f f t t Spor Spor our our Y Y Emir Bekric´: “The hope of more medals…”

The 400m hurdles also brought honours for European Athletics’ Male Rising Star of the Year who was 22-year-old Serbian Emir Bekric´ who had an amazing few weeks during the summer.

After winning gold at the That national record was broken twice in “I am still young and I want to keep European Athletics U23 Championships Russia – with 48.36 in the semi-finals and training hard. I am confident that I can in with a national record of then his 48.05 in the final – and how he improve in the future. The most important 48.76, he then took his career to another savoured every moment of his glory. things are the medals and then the result. level by finishing third at the World I hope to win more medals in the future. Championships in Moscow. Speaking after receiving his award, Bekric´ “We will see – everything is possible." said: “I am always proud to represent my country and during the world championships in Moscow, I had a lot of support from Serbia.

Anita Hinriksdottir: Breaking the record twice

Iceland's Anita Hinriksdottir, 17, won the Women's European Athletics Rising Star award after her summer where she became her country's first gold medallist in a global event.

She won the 800m at the IAAF World Youth Hinriksdottir was highly honoured to be present at Championships in Donetsk and then a week later the ceremony. repeated her glory at the European Athletics Junior Championships in Rieti. While the winners were signing autographs for Estonian fans, she lined up among the crowd to It was some double. She broke the Championship request a signature from Bohdan Bondarenko, who record in Donetsk with her time of 2:01.13 and then was receiving the award along with her. in Rieti, she won in 2:01.14. Now she has a fresh aim. This sense of humility will certainly play to her “Breaking two minutes is the target for the next advantage as she progresses in the years to come. year,” said Hinriksdottir.

www.european-athletics.org 9 Your Sport for Life IAAF World Championships

The incredible Snatching gold fairytale of a pole queen by 0.004 sec Twenty-four hours earlier, Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu had become the Yelena Isinbayeva turned the IAAF World 400m world champion again. Championships into her own fairytale – and she can now live happily ever after. With gold came a flood Like Isinbayeva, Ohuruogu had left Japan on a high in 2007 and equally, 12 of tears, and it was hardly surprising that she could months later, had won the Olympic title. not control herself on home soil in Moscow. She also proved that class remains constant as she produced one of her When the moment came that the women's pole Every time she took to the runway, there was a roar, stunning, late trademark finishes to vault was all over, Isinbayeva went charging over to with the crowd chanting 'Yelena, Yelena'. She did not snatch gold off the defending champion, celebrate with her coach, Yefgeny Trofimov, in the let them down. Amantle Montsho, of Botswana, in the stands of the Luzhniki Stadium, running with such Isinbayeva had once been the dominant force of final stride. speed she could have been auditioning for the 100m. the event, yet not since retaining the Olympic title in in 2008 had she been at the top of the There has never been a closer finish in At 31, Isinbayeva, a double Olympic champion, a podium in a major outdoor event. In 2012 in Istanbul, the history of the World Championships double world champion and a European champion, she had won her fourth World Indoor crown but then than this final with Ohuruogu winning had won her first outdoor title for six years, as she at the Olympics in in the summer of that year, by 0.004 – four thousandths of a second proved once again she is the greatest performer her she failed to retain her title, this time winning bronze. – in 49.41, the same time as Montsho, event has seen. with Russian Antonina Krivoshapka back It was all part of a long process to return to the top, in third in 49.78. “I am the pole vault queen,” she said. “This victory is having teamed up with her former coach Trofimov the most precious in my entire career.” in 2011, which has helped her discover this new, Added to her success, Ohuruogu, 29, sensational phase of her career. Isinbayeva had this achieved the domestic landmark of For the record, she won with a height of 4.89m, to say about her coach: “He is a genius; he helped breaking the national 400m record beating American Olympic champion Jenn Surh, who me get my world title back. He resuscitated me. It is which Kathy Cook had set when she won won silver, and Yarisley Silva, of Cuba, who took all thanks to him.” bronze at the Olympics in bronze. in 1984. “This national record has She knew the part the crowd had played too. “I won cemented my 400m reign, that personal Though Isinbayeva attempted to break the world because I was at home,” she added. “I want to thank best was long overdue,” Ohuruogu said. record of 5.06m she had set in 2009, she never made all the fans because their support made it happen.” She broke her previous best time by it over at 5.07m. It did not matter one bit because the 0.20, which had been set in Osaka. noise inside the stadium was just incredible. It was an Her plans are now for more glory at the next Olympics, evening she will never forget. It was what athletics but the sport will not see her for a while. She timed her run to perfection, charging dreams are made of. along the home straight. With only 60m Isinbayeva stated: “I am not retiring; I am just taking left to go it did not look like she would Not many sports men or women have the chance a break. I will have a baby next year and try to come make it, but she somehow pulled it off. to win world gold in their home country, and now back for Rio.” Isinbayeva has achieved it twice, having triumphed “I didn’t know if I had won or not,” she at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Moscow The last time Isinbayeva had won the world title continued, as the result was decided by back in 2006. But nothing will ever beat this and she was in Osaka in 2007 – and she was not alone in a photo-finish. “I knew it was all going knew it. rediscovering that feeling once more six years on. to be about experience. I think that’s the fifth big final I have been to, so I know how to deal with it.”

But history was repeating itself. She was EUROPEAN WINNERS IN MOSCOW on top of the world after the quickest run of her life. And she could not have MEN WOMEN 5,000m – Mo Farah (GBR) 13:26.98 400m – Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) 49.41 been happier. 10,000m – Mo Farah (GBR) 27:21.71 1500m – Abeba Aregawi (SWE) 4:02.67 20km walk – Aleksandr Ivanov (RUS) 1:20:58 400m hurdles – Zuzana Hejnová (CZE) 52.83 50km walk – Robert Heffernan (IRL) 3:37:56 20km walk – Elena Lashmanova (RUS) 1:27:08 High jump – Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR) 2.41m 4 x 400m relay – Russia 3:20.19 Pole vault – Raphael Holzdeppe (GER) 5.89m High jump – Svetlana Shkolina (RUS) 2.03m Long jump – Aleksandr Menkov (RUS) 8.56m Pole vault – Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.89m Triple jump – Teddy Tamgho (FRA) 18.04m Discus – Sandra Perkovic (CRO) 67.99m – David Storl (GER) 21.73m Hammer – Tatyana Lysenko (RUS) 78.80m Discus – Robert Harting (GER) 69.11m Javelin – Christina Obergfoll (GER) 69.05m Javelin – Vitezslav Vesely (CZE) 87.17m – Hanna Melnychenko (UKR) 6586 pts Hammer – Pawel Fajdek (POL) 81.97m

10 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|13 INSIDE TRACK Education Programme e Lif or f t Spor our Y

Antidoping education drives at the European Athletics Junior Championships in Rieti, and European Athletics U23 Championships in Tampere

Zurich tickets won in European antidoping education drive

The European Athletics Anti-Doping Education Programme was organised on the sidelines of the Tampere 2013 European Athletics U23 Championships and Rieti 2013 European Athletics Junior Championships.

Athletes participating in Tampere from of marks in the quiz, they also received board), contribution to the flight ticket up 11–14 July and Rieti from 18–21 July a branded t-shirt with the slogans of the to 400 CHF. had the opportunity to win full-board programme – I Run Clean, I Jump Clean, I tickets to next year's European Athletics Throw Clean. Championships in Zurich. 2nd place winner in Tampere was Nick Athletes were asked to share information Miller (GBR) and Rieti was Lorenzo As part of the fifth edition of the with their fellow competitors and Dini (ITA) European Athletics Anti-Doping Education encourage aspiring athletes to adopt Prize: Accreditation (Team Access) for the Programme, athletes were encouraged to clean approach to sports through a Twitter European Athletics Championships in take part in a series of activities aimed at campaign using the hashtags #IRunClean, Zürich, Accommodation for the duration helping enhance their knowledge of anti- #IJumpClean and #IThrowClean. of the Championships in one of the team doping issues. hotels (single room, BB or Full board). Those who took part in the quiz and Almost 50 percent of all athletes at each finished at least one Real Winner case event took part. study were entered in a lottery. The 3rd place winner in Tampere was Sara following randomly selected athletes won: Jemai (ITA) and Rieti was Alexandru They were asked to go through case Terpezan (ROU) studies using the interactive education Prize: Accreditation (Team Access) for the tool “Real Winner” and take part in a 1st place winner in Tampere was European Athletics Championships in quiz designed by the World Anti-Doping Bachara Khorava (GEO) and Rieti was Zürich. Agency (WADA). The coaches were Salome Siradze (GEO) engaged, too, through the education tool Prize: Accreditation (Team Access) for the “Coach True”. 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zürich (SUI), Accommodation for the All participants received a bracelet and if duration of the Championships in one of they scored more than a stipulated level the team hotels (single room, BB or Full

INSIDE TRACK 2|13 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 11 Your Sport for Life Council Berlin to host 2018 European Athletics Championships

European Athletics has awarded the 2018 European Athletics Championships to the Germany city of Berlin.

The European Athletics Council made the Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit said, “For German athletics, it is important that decision at its early November meeting “Berlin’s is one of the we have in 2014 the European Athletics after the German Athletics Federation and most modern stadiums in Europe. With Team Championships in Braunschweig, City of Berlin presented their candidacy to the 2009 IAAF World Championships, we another major international event in host the 24th edition of the event. have already shown that we can organise Germany, to be now followed by the 2018 an outstanding major international European Athletics Championships.” European Athletics President Hansjörg athletics event.” Wirz said, “We are very pleased to confirm Berlin 2018 will be the third time the that Berlin host European Athletics DLV President Dr. Clemens Prokop said, European Athletics Championships is Championships in 2018.” “We guarantee the 2018 European organised in Germany after Stuttgart Athletics Championships will be organised 1986 and Munich 2002. “They have impressed us today with a at the highest technical level and with fantastic interactive presentation. We are excellent conditions for the athletes. This weekend's summit in Zurich is the convinced that Berlin 2018 will be a great European Athletics Council's 138th event.” official meeting.

French cross country premiere

European Athletics has awarded the 2015 SPAR European Cross Country Championships to the French commune of Paray-le- Monial. The European Athletics Council made “The determination they demonstrated the decision the announcement on 2 comforted us in our choice, we are sure November, after the French Athletics that Paray-le-Monial 2015 will successfully Federation and delegates of Paray-le- represent France.” Monial presented their candidacy to host the event. It will be the first time that France will host the event, which will be the 22nd edition. European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said, “We are pleased to announce that Paray-le-Monial will be the hosts of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in 2015.

12 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|13 INSIDE TRACK Director General's State of Our Sport e Lif or f t Spor our Y Looking ahead to 2014 European Athletics Director General Christian Milz runs through an A to Z highlights package of the next 12 months.

A – ARENA. It will be “All Systems Go” Conference on 24–26 January. This decided at the May Council meeting, with for the event management tool that we domain is one of the prime focuses for Georgia, Italy and Slovakia in the running. are sure will be a strong influence on European Athletics in the coming years. European Athletics’ life for at least the V – Volunteers. The European Athletics next 10 years, making life easier for our N – New Concepts. The European Championships Zurich 2014 are months Member Federations, guests and staff. Athletics Innovation Awards will take place away but many volunteers are already in 2014, encouraging research, study and working on the event – and being B – Braunschweig. The 5th edition of the new ideas leading to the development of recognised for their efforts with a European Athletics Team Championships the sport of athletics. Volunteer of the Month award. Super League will be held in the German city. O – Organisers. The coming year sees W – Wirz. Our President Hansjörg Wirz a new era and area for organisers of our will enter his final full calendar year at C – CEO Conference. It will be held in the competitions with Azerbaijan, Former the helm of our organisation in 2014. A Danish capital of during the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia highlight for him will be Zurich 2014, held World Half Marathon Championships on and Ukraine hosting European Athletics close to his hometown of Schaffhausen. 29–30 March with a focus on managing events. grassroots and elite athletics from the X – X Country. The 21st SPAR European Member Federation point of view. P – Prague. The test event for the 2015 Cross Country Championships will be held European Athletics Indoor Championships in the town of Samokov in Bulgaria on 14 D – Donetsk. Will be the venue for both is set for 25 February 2014, when the December. the European Cup Combined Events First local organising committee and European and Second Leagues. Athletics will come together for a Y – Young Leaders Forum. The European coordination meeting. Athletics-UNESCO Young Leaders Forum E – European Youth Olympic Trials. will be held in conjunction with the Will be held in Baku as part of an Q – Questionnaire. We are currently European Athletics Championships Zurich athletics development plan for Azerbaijan formulating a Facilities Questionnaire that 2014. The Forum aims to promote youth developed by our President Hansjörg Wirz will be sent out to Member Federations leadership and civic engagement through and the national athletics federation. in the New Year. Its aim is to develop an the development of community projects extensive overview of the main athletics linked to the sport of athletics. F – Former Yugoslav Republic of stadiums and facilities in Europe to help Macedonia. The country will be hosting with long-term planning in event biding Z – Zuzana Hejnová. Can 2014 be any the 18th European Cup 10,000m in the and allocation. better for the Czech star? In 2013, she capital city of Skopje on 7 June. became world champion, went unbeaten R – Running. We continue to work in this in the Diamond League, set a new national G – Gap. The French commune will be area to ensure our position as the natural record and was named women’s European hosting the 13th European Mountain authority for running in Europe. We Athlete of the Year. The poster girl for the Running Championships on 12 July. also embrace road running at the Head Prague 2015 European Athletics Indoor H – Hengelo. The future is bright for Office and will be looking to take part in Championships will be hoping for a strong athletics in the Dutch city after the local running events in 2014. In 2013, a year before heading to the Czech capital authorities decided to keep the FBK European Athletics team took part in the in March 2015. Stadion for athletics, with the future of the Lausanne Half Marathon (see photo). FBK Games secure. S – Sustainability. Our three major I – Indoor Allocation. The 2017 European events in the summer of 2013 Athletics Indoor Championships will be demonstrated a commitment awarded at the Council meeting in May, to sustainability by taking part with , Serbia and Turkey the bidders. in our Green Inspiration project. We will work with our event J – Jewel in the Crown. The European organisers in 2014 to ensure the Athletics Championships Zurich 2014 will same. be the flagship event in athletics during 2014, taking place 12–17 August. T – Tallinn. The Estonian city will follow their excellent K – Kiev. The Ukraine capital will be the organisation of the European venue for the European Athletics Council Athletics Convention and meeting in May. Awards Night in 2013 by hosting the European Athletics Team L – Leiria. The Portuguese city will host Championships First League in the 14th European Cup Winter Throwing June. on 15 March. U – Under-18s. The hosting of M – Marseille. The French port city will the inaugural European Athletics be venue for the Health & Well-Being Youth Championships will be

INSIDE TRACK 2|13 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 13 Your Sport for Life Television

TV audience of 21 million watches European Athletics Team Championships

This cumulative figure (excluding news strong television audience as well as a sell- audiences) is an improvement on the out crowd at the stadium. audiences for the Leiria 2009 and Bergen 2010 editions, 16.5 million and 11.5 “We are looking forward to strong million, respectively, and a decrease from television coverage for next year’s the Stockholm 2011 edition (34 million). European Athletics Team Championships There was also coverage in Great Britain, in Braunschweig, Germany.” With International Broadcasters in 13 France, Germany, Cyprus, , Norway, European countries showing the event, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, and, for The Tampere 2013 European Athletics U23 there was a big increase in the number of the first time, Ukraine. Championships in July saw an increase hours of coverage for Gateshead 2013 in in television viewing figures, with a June. Pan-European channel Eurosport also cumulative audience of 5.4 million a small broadcast 7 hours of coverage. increase on the previous edition in Ostrava Extensive coverage in Italy and Spain in 2011 (5.3 million) and a large increase boosted this figure to 173 hours, compared European Athletics President Hansjörg on the 2009 (1.7 million) and to 91 hours for Stockholm 2011. Wirz said, “We are very happy with these Debrecen 2007 (1.7 million) editions. broadcast figures for Gateshead 2013. It was an excellent event that garnered a Head Coaches aim for more Olympic and WCH medals Up to 50 Member Federation Head Coaches and Performance Directors discussed elite performance trends and how cooperation could strengthen Europe’s position as the top- performing continent in at the first-ever European Athletics High-Performance Conference.

Speakers at the summit in Frankfurt, federations increase their success in the it might be valuable to provide a platform Germany, 23–24 November included high-performance area, including winning for them to share ideas about providing Charles Van Commenee (NED), who is more medals at the and services and dealing with elite athletes best known for leading the successful World Championships in Athletics,” said and coaches. Great Britain & Northern Ireland athletics Frank Hensel, chairman of the European team at the 2012 Olympic Games. Athletics Education Commission, ahead of “We are expecting practical discussions the conference. about delivery structures and possibly Joining him was Erland Slokvik (NOR), a ways we could work together. former Sport Director for the powerful According to Hensel, the aim of the Norwegian biathlon team and former conference was to examine the extent “If we see a positive response, we will National Coach for Norwegian of federation influence on performance develop the concept in the future.” Orienteering, who gave a perspective development and promote the exchange Charles Van Commenee, 2012 on performance management in other of good practice. The conference replaced this year’s Head Olympic Games Great sports. Coaches Forum, which is traditionally Britain & Nothern “We know Head Coaches are in held over half a day during the European Ireland athletics team “The aim is to find ways to help European competition with each other, but we think Athletics Convention. coach.

14 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|13 INSIDE TRACK DEVELOPMENT e Lif or f t Spor our Y

Green Inspiration: smart sustainable summer events lead the way

European Athletics’ three major events in the summer of 2013 demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by taking part in the Green Inspiration project. And in each case they brought a unique creative spin to activities in this area.

The promotional campaigns of the The U23 Championships organisers in over the summer. “Trying to change European Athletics Team Championships Tampere linked their sustainability efforts culture is always a big challenge, but I am in Gateshead, the European Athletics to a Tidy City campaign promoted by pleased that the organisers all recognised U23 Championships in Tampere and the the municipal authorities. In addition, the need to include the sustainability European Athletics Junior Championships they distributed more than 3,000 dimension in the promotion of their in Rieti all featured waste management, branded reusable water bottles to event events and that they had their own ideas recycling arrangements and local participants and spectators – and then on how to involve the public.” volunteer delivered, awareness-raising provided six stations for filling the bottles efforts aimed at school children. at the competition venue. “Athletics is a leading sport in this area and if we keep pushing, the organisers In addition to the elements Not to be outdone, the Rieti LOC created will see that they can produce significant shared with the other LOCs, a smart phone application so spectators benefits.” Gateshead’s campaign could easily access start lists and results, included a 10km fun run for which reduced printing requirements and The work of volunteers who assisted with more than 5,000 participants litter at the venue. They also sold specially Green Inspiration activities at all three staged by event partner designed merchandising items made with events this summer will be recognised NOVA, to promote fitness recycled and eco-friendly materials to raise with “Green Medal” certificates given and health in the local awareness of environmental issues. by European Athletics and the event community as a legacy of the organising committees. Team Championships. Council member Sylvia Barlag, who is leading the Green Inspiration project on For more information visit the behalf of European Athletics, expressed Sustainability pages at her satisfaction with the progress made www.european-athletics.org.

Health & Well-Being Conference to focus on opportunities for federations

The first-ever European Athletics Health & Well-Being Conference, to be staged in Marseille, France, from 24 to 26 January 2014, aims to provide Member Federations with insight on how to enhance the sport’s role in society as well as the financial position of federations and clubs.

“We saw at our 2012 CEO Conference of promoting health through athletics- that most federation leaders are convinced related activities. of the need to add another dimension or pillar to the high-performance pathway According to Jean Gracia, the conference and elite events that have been their will include a number of practical main focus for so long,” says Jean Gracia, workshops on actions federations can the European Athletics Vice President in take in the short- and medium-term. charge of Development. “The next steps are to show what the federations that are During the conference, European Athletics leading in this new field are doing and try will introduce its Road Race Safety to help the others who are interested in and Quality Standards system, which joining.” is intended to strengthen federations’ positions as natural authorities in the ever- Federations have been invited to send growing running market. two participants each to the conference, one whose work covers recreational The conference participants will also running and another who could be participate in a Health & Fitness Day event responsible for developing a programme to witness a real-life example of how to activities and attract participants to the or project touching on some other aspect promote health and well-being related sport.

INSIDE TRACK 2|13 Newsletter of European Athletics www.european-athletics.org 15 Your Sport for Life Website & ARENA European Athletics launches new website

European Athletics is pleased to announce the launch of its new website www.european-athletics.org.

Featuring striking new graphics and an happy to present the impressive first stage easy-to-read page design, the website is of development for our new website. responsive to the computer, tablet and mobile screen it is being viewed upon. “A sports federation website such as ours needs to have something for everybody: It brings together all the latest news, our Member Federations, fans, athletes, photos, videos and social content related officials, media, and local organising to European athletes and events and committees. meetings. It also features a comprehensive “We will be using a live blogging tool European calendar, latest results and “We hope all our visitors will find it a during these events that brings together athlete database. useful source of information. all the best news, photos, videos, statistics, social media and analysis into one place. European Athletics Director General “The website will be constantly evolving, Christian Milz said, “We are and we are, of course, “We also aim to use in a more user-friendly looking forward to and accessible way the huge amount of seeing it ‘in action’ statistics that make our sport so rich. during our events, when we will be “In these ways, we can improve the providing live results ‘second-screen’ experience of the from all our major traditional television fan of athletics and championships. also connect with new fans.”

www.european-athletics.org

Introducing ARENA – the event management system

Almost in parallel to the website project, there has been impressive and intensive “behind the scenes” work to develop and create a new tool that will influence European Athletics’ life for at least the next 10 years – the event management system called ARENA.

We are sure this system will make life easier for our Member Federations, guests and staff in the future.

A tremendous amount of work has been done by each staff member in his/her domain of expertise to create ARENA.

The first event for which it will be used is the Belgrade 2013 SPAR European Cross Country Championships, before going on to be used for all our events in 2014, including the European Athletics Championships at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich (left).

The key benefits of having an event management system at the disposal of all local organising committees and Member Federations will shine through as we move forward.

16 www.european-athletics.org Newsletter of European Athletics 2|13 INSIDE TRACK