Convention unites and strengthens

New Commissions get down to work Clubs System and Youth Conference Amsterdam fast approaching

Running For All takes Off

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N E W S L E T T E R O F E U R O P E A N A T H L E T I C S

Dafne Schippers & Greg Rutherford voted athletes of the year

GOLDEN COUPLE

AT THE EUROPEAN Athletics Convention in Lausanne, it was my great pleasure to listen to IOC President Thomas Bach, IAAF President Sebastian Coe and EOC President Patrick Hickey address our 51 Member Federations. President Bach spoke – very frankly – about the importance of change. “Change or be changed” was his overriding message to the European Athletics Family. He kindly referred to my pre-election manifesto of “Leading Change” that outlines the – sometimes difficult – decisions that we face.

Changes need to be made to our existing events. Change must come about through new, innovative events. Change must come through how we serve our federations, how we operate as an organisation, how we do business. These changes are critical to the future of our sport. We cannot fall behind. We must address the realities of a new, modern, digitised world, which presents myriad other requests and demands on people’s time. Society has changed. So must we.

I was present at the recent “G5” meeting that brings together the big Member Federations of France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain. A hot discussion topic was the “European Sports Championships,” of which the Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships will be part. Being a part of this is undoubtedly a big change – but we must look to innovate and to challenge the status quo. We cannot stand still. But we will manage this particular change on our own terms. We are the leaders of this project along with European Swimming. We are in the driving seat.

Television has been pushing for this concept, and we have listened. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will be the broadcast partner. There is a projected television audience of around 850 million and an even wider audience via multiple digital platforms. I understand that for the first time there is considerable interest from broadcasters outside of Europe as well. The EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot believes that the multi-sport event will be the centrepiece of the summer sports season in Europe.

Adopting a new concept such as the European Sports Championships is part of our strategy in addressing the central challenge European Athletics faces over the

coming decade: increasing the relevance of our sport. We hope many of the future changes we make will build greater awareness, popularity and loyalty that will attract additional support from governments, the media, commercial partners and volunteers.

In this particular case, we are sure the European Sports Championships will bring additional value and benefits to the European Athletics Championships in Berlin and athletics on the continent. Let us embrace this change!

To succeed in effecting change, a key issue in the sport that we must address is integrity. Athletics has long been a leader in the fight against doping. Maintaining this position, becoming more effective, and communicating about our efforts are fundamental to the credibility of our sport.

Our recent Council meeting in Frankfurt tackled this issue, specifically the extremely serious allegations relating to doping and corruption that are currently being addressed by the IAAF, the French authorities, WADA and others. We are going through a dark and sad time for athletics. Although such problems are not unique to our sport or organisations, they are against all the values and ideals we hold. However, we are heartened by the thought that we have a unique opportunity to take appropriate action, implement necessary reforms and start to rebuild the credibility of our sport.

We give our full backing and support to the IAAF President Sebastian Coe in his efforts to lead the sport through the difficult and complicated process. We are aware that it will take time and there will be many challenges, but we have full confidence in President Coe’s leadership. Personally, I will give Seb my full support in my role as IAAF Council member and Executive Board member. The position of European Athletics is that athletics is a sport that continues to offer great value to participants, audiences and partners around the world. By standing together and upholding our values, we can and will work through the current difficulties and athletics will emerge stronger in the future.

Svein Arne Hansen, President of European Athletics

Embracing change

WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

INSIDE TRACK | 3

Excitement builds towards Amsterdam

ORGANISERS OF THE Amsterdam European Athletics Championships are ticking all the boxes ahead of 2016 with some big milestones already passed.

Global Champion – check! With Dafne Schippers' triumph in Beijing and recognition at the Golden Tracks awards, visitors to the Championships can be assured of world-class entertainment as she aims to make a big impression on home soil. Her exploits have spurred on her fellow countrymen and women who are determined to crown her success with big performances of their own.

Worldwide broadcast – check!Over 30 international broadcasters travelled to Amsterdam in October for meetings with organisers. Amsterdam is promising ‘Athletics like never before,’ so they can be assured of an exciting event to offer to television audiences. Televisual highlights will include javelin and discus qualification in the Museum Square and the half marathon championships in the city. Local broadcaster NOS is preparing its biggest ever coverage with a large team of workers, trucks and cameras.

Public participation – check! All runners are being offered the chance to take part in Amsterdam 2016 with the Brooks 10k Champions Run to be held in the heart of the city on the final day of the European Athletics Championships. Participants will receive a custom designed technical running shirt and have the chance to purchase season tickets for the Championships in a special discounted pre-sale starting in January.

It is hard to believe that this will be the first time the Championships have been staged in the Netherlands but it is the perfect time for a European country with such a tradition in athletics to be hosting the event. A tremendous number of talented Dutch athletes have recently emerged with Dafne Schippers, Eelco Sintnicolass, Nadine Broersen and Sifan Hassan leading the way.

Over 1,300 athletes are expected and crowds will be welcomed by more than 1,500 volunteers making these Championships a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for athletics fans.

Individual day tickets are available from 7 December. To ensure your place visit: www.amsterdam2016.org/en/tickets1/

European Athletics Championships will be the hottest ticket in Europe in 2016

AMSTERDAM 2016

European Athletics Association Européenne d’Athlétisme

President:Svein Arne Hansen

Vice Presidents:Dobrimir KaramarinovFrank HenselJean Gracia

CEO:Christian Milz

Office:Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 18CH-1003 LausanneSwitzerlandPhone +41 (0)21 313 43 50Fax +41 (0)21 313 43 51office@european-athletics.orgwww.european-athletics.org“Inside Track” is published by European Athletics

Co-ordination:James Mulligan, François SchrursEuropean Athletics Communication DepartmentPhone +41 (0)21 313 43 57media@european-athletics.org

Text, Photos:James Mulligan, François Schrurs, SportBusiness Communications, Svein Arne Hansen, Christian Milz, Andy Heading, Getty Images

Design, Production:SportBusiness Communications2nd Floor, 5 Thomas More Square, London, E1W 1YW, United KingdomPhone +44 (0)208 421 2423Phil.Savage@sportbusiness.com

Print: Pensord Press, UK

Follow us:facebook.com/EuropeanAthletics@euroathleticsYouTube/European Athletics

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IT IS ONE of the biggest dates in the European Athletics calendar and a firm fixture for Member Federations so there was considerable excitement when it was announced that this year’s European Athletics Convention would feature a revamped format. The changes would make it “the biggest and best ever,” according to President Svein Arne Hansen, who confirmed ahead of the convention: “We are sure that our Members will derive great value and inspiration from these speeches.”

With presentations from IOC President Thomas Bach, newly-elected IAAF President Sebastian Coe and EOC President Patrick Hickey, the convention lived up to its billing. All had been personally invited by Svein Arne Hansen and the fact the three – Bach, Coe and Hansen himself – were newly elected meant that this was a unique opportunity to look into the future.

Down to business in Lausanne

CONVENTION REPORT

Once the initial welcomes had been made, it was straight down to business. President Bach encouraged delegates to embrace the future saying: “Athletics cannot fall behind and it has to address the realities of a new modern digitised world which makes different demands on sports organisations.”

He saw President Hansen’s mandate for change as very positive and in line with his own Olympic Agenda 2020 adding “Your vision is very important for leading change.

“If you don’t change; if you wait too long, you will be the one being changed, then it will be others that will lead change. It may sound dramatic, but it reflects the reality so thank you President Hansen that you are really taking this up and leading change.”

President Bach went on to outline changes at the IOC including efforts to free up the events calendar, and the new Olympic television channel which he pledged would

keep sport relevant 365 days a year.“This will also be a great opportunity for athletics,” he said, “to present itself to the billions around the globe. We can look forward to a boost for athletics and a boost for Olympism around the world.”

With that prospect ringing in delegates’ ears President Hansen continued the theme of change, referring the audience back to his election promises. He restated his claim that athletics faces major challenges and that the next four years will be critical, saying:

“We will need to be bold and make significant, sometimes difficult, changes – not just to our events and how we serve our federations, but also to the whole culture of our organisation and how we do business.”

He spoke of the auspicious timing saying: “2015 is a historic moment because after 16 years we have new presidents both in Europe and in IAAF. We have

to work together and we have to be committed to the cause of athletics.

“We are working very effectively with our partners – the IOC, the IAAF and the European Olympic Movement. These are very important partners in the future of European Athletics.”

Sebastian Coe, newly elected President of the IAAF, praised the organisers of the convention saying:

“I can’t think of any other gathering in the world that would bring people from so many different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures under one roof for a common cause, and that is something really worth celebrating.” He carried on the theme of change saying: “For all of us this has been a seismic moment but it has given us the chance to think where we need to be and what it means to be a modern sport that responds to changing patterns and trends.”

Coe outlined a series of internal changes to the IAAF but saw the importance of going beyond administration. “All the structures, organisations and corporate governance in the world count for nothing if you don’t fundamentally have a group of people that understands what they’re doing.”

Embracing his Vice President, Sergey Bubka, and colleagues from European Athletics, he said these would be people to achieve the changes required. “This isn’t just a relationship between organisations; it’s a set of friendships that will see the sport through times of change – good times and bad times – over the next generation.

“This can never be a one-man crusade,” he said. “It is no surprise that two of the

October saw the European Athletics family gather in Lausanne for the 2015 Convention complete with prestigious keynote speakers

Olympic values are friendship and respect and that is how we have to drive our sport. Our task is to build on the global presence that European Athletics has.”

New formatThe Convention programme also included a European Athletics Extraordinary Congress and the traditional Calendar Conference for athletics meeting organisers. The Euromeetings Board and General Assembly, Athletics Association of the Small States of Europe and Nordic Countries also all arranged meetings.

New this year, a Communication Managers Seminar ran alongside the main event focusing on the promotion of the Amsterdam 2016 European Athletics Championships.

An overhaul of the Convention was one of the first items the Executive Board addressed following the European Athletics elections

in April, creating a working group made up of Vice President Frank Hensel, Council member Márton Gyulai and European Athletics Head Office staff.

Feedback from attendees was extremely positive especially with the opportunity to celebrate at the Golden Tracks Awards Night, which President Hansen called “the jewel in the crown of the Convention.” He was very encouraged by what had been achieved.

“It gives me so much energy to meet all the federations,” he said, “There are positive reactions from everybody. They feel part of something, they feel part of the change and it gives me energy I didn’t know I had.

“We have been graced by the presence of Thomas Bach, Sebastian Coe and Patrick Hickey. It has generated extensive media interest, delivered great value to Member Federations and further united the European Athletics community.”

Clockwise from the left: IAAF Vice President

Sergey Bubka takes his place; new IAAF President

Sebastian Coe congratulates organisers; IOC

President Thomas Bach embraces the future; and

EOC President Patrick Hickey shares a moment

with President Hansen.

“Athletics cannot fall behind and it has to address the realities of a new modern digitised world”Thomas Bach

COMMISSIONS COMMISSIONS

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STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

ChairKARAMARINOV, Dobromir (Vice President) Deputy ChairMULLIGAN, James (European Athletics Staff)

MembersAKSYONOVA, Olga (UKR)BARLAG, Sylvia (NED)BUTOV, Mikhail (RUS)DIONISI, Nikolin (ALB)EMMIYAN, Robert (ARM)GYULAI, Marton (HUN)HILDESKOR, Kjetil (NOR)LIPPE, Sirje (EST)MAURIAT, Julien (FRA)STAPONKUTE, Ieva (LTU)STEINER, Luka (SLO)YARAS, Salih Münir (TUR)

BUSINESS & MARKETING COMMISSION

ChairHENSEL, Frank (Vice President) Deputy ChairBRAUN, Charles (European Athletics Staff)

MembersBENCINA, Gregor (SLO) KOWALSKI, Frank (GER) PIHLAKOSKI, Antti (FIN) TERNISIEN, Julien (SUI) EBUVARHANIK, Libor (CZE) BIVER, Marc (EAMAG)

THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS Commission was created at the request of our new President and the Council and we had our first meeting in September this year. The President and the Council recognised that we have some difficulties in this area so the Commission has been set up to improve the situation. We have created two permanent expert groups: one to look specifically at communications and the other to review strategy. Our goal is to improve communications both between Member Federations and between European Athletics and the members.

We have 51 Member Federations in European Athletics but they are in very different situations. We are one continent but there are big differences between our members. For example, the French Athletics Federation has over 60 employees whereas in Macedonia or Montenegro there are no dedicated staff at all and that makes communication challenging. It is vital that there is a common understanding among our federations, clubs and partners of what athletics means and where we are trying to take it. The more effective we are at this, the more the sport will grow.

At our first meeting we decided to focus on our slogan; ‘Your Sport for Life’. We will explain what this means for Member Federations and how they can use it to

THE BUSINESS AND Marketing Commission is a new commission and in my view a very welcome development. It is a good idea from the President to focus on the commercial aspects of our sport and organisation.

I have been relatively free to nominate the members of the Commission and I think we have a great deal of experience around the table. Several of the members have either direct business and marketing experience or experience on the commercial side of our major events. We also have Marc Biver of Tridem, our marketing agency partner, Julien Ternisien from the EBU and Frank Kowalski, former CEO of the German Athletics Federation marketing agency. We are not going to be a decision-making body but, with our wide range of expertise, I am confident we will develop ideas and then recommend them to the Executive Board and our new marketing agency European Athletics Marketing Co.

Our role is not to sell advertising boards, but to take a more global perspective on the commercial strategy of European Athletics. We are looking at how international sport is developing, new multi-sport events and the commercial environment. Then we will review our existing properties from the European Athletics Championships up to the European Games and look at new developments in communications to

Karamarinov looks to improve communication

Frank Hensel (GER), Chair,

Business & Marketing Commission

improve our sport. As President Hansen said, this is the basis for us to have consistent and coordinated communications in the future.

Just as important is to be in a dialogue with our federations and others so we can understand what they think about European Athletics and its policies and we can address issues before they become problems.

Recently we organised a seminar in Frankfurt about Youth and Clubs. We invited all Member Federations to attend but three weeks after the deadline around 20% hadn’t answered even though we were covering travel and accommodation expenses. The problem is sometimes one of language, but the main problem is some of these smaller members have no dedicated person working for the federation.

That does not mean they have to have someone working full time but they do need to have an organisation with some capacity and we have to find ways to help them. We have to use a different approach with each type of federation to get to the same result.

At first it is important to make links with each federation to establish contact with the people involved. The Commission is made up of members from smaller and larger federations and they will be our ambassadors to the federations. We hope to establish a person in each Member Federation who will be responsible for communication.

promote the brand and our products, using new media, for example.

Our priorities will align with the two-pillar approach of European Athletics so we will explore how our major events can become more commercially successful and what new “value for money” propositions we can create to secure long-term revenue streams for the further development of our sport. Alongside this we will work with Member Federations helping them become more commercially aware too. This part of our role involves education and becoming an idea-sharing platform to support and coordinate the commercial development of Member Federations.

We have not set ourselves any specific targets as yet. It is early days for this Commission and our first two meetings have been spent reflecting on where we are and the challenges we face. Setting up this Commission with its terms of reference is a recognition that European Athletics has not been as commercial as we could have been and that this is a real need. From our next meeting in February, we will be putting in place concrete next steps and action points.

Over the next four years I hope we will bring more of a business/marketing mindset to European Athletics which should move to being a more commercially focused organisation as opposed to a

Our goal over the period of our mandate is to see communication taking place more and more easily. I hope it will be clear in one or two years that we are really achieving something.

purely administrative body. We need to develop new products for

our sport and look at how to increase the value in the market place of our existing products. We must maintain control over our sport and our products and ensure that they are commercially well managed by our Member Federations. And we will need to attract commercial partners who will invest in the additional activation of their commercial rights to promote our events and promote athletics in Europe.

Dobromir Karamarinov (BUL),

Chair, Strategic Communications

Commission

Hensel: Becoming more commercial is priority

MEMBER FEDERATION DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

ChairGRACIA, Jean (Vice President) Deputy ChairSINTES, Marc (European Athletics Staff)

MembersDAVIS, Nick (IRL)DLUGOSIELSKI, Piotr (POL)GIOMI, Alfio (ITA)HÖGBERG, Curt (SWE)LARSEN, Jakob (DEN)LUKOVIC, Ana (SRB)SCHOEBEL, Jean-Pierre (MON)SVENSEN, Charlotte (NOR)TEIGAMÄGI, Erich (EST)ZELICHENOK, Vadim (RUS)

EVENT & COMPETITION COMMISSION

ChairNILSSON, Toralf (Executive Board Member) Deputy ChairWAKIM, Marcel (European Athletics Staff)

MembersALEXANDER, Cherry (GBR)DE CARLOS, José Luis (ESP)DIMAKOS, Panagiotis (GRE)HAMM, Frank (GER)O’CALLAGHAN, Pierce (IRL)PUHALEVA, Galia (BUL)RICCARDI, Anna (ITA)SALCEDO, Jorge (POR)SEILER, Christoph (SUI)IAKOVAKIS, Periklis (GRE) – Athletes Commission Representative

THE MEMBER FEDERATION Development Commission is one of the original committees of European Athletics and exists to support all of our members across Europe.

For a number of years we have been following a twin pillar strategy: the first concerns high performance and competitions, and the second pillar includes all the other areas which support athletics development. These are things like running in mass participation events, health and well-being in competitive and non-competitive activities. Education for coaches, officials and leaders in our Member Federations. The role of athletics in society for health, sustainability, youth, masters, gender equity, etc. There are many more and all these areas come under the remit of the Member Federation Development Commission. We have to push in all of these areas for the high performance part of the sport to be strong.

We are not like a company; a commercial organisation with paid staff. In our sport we achieve everything through passionate people. At the Head Office we don’t deal with the day-to-day problems. Those are dealt with by the Member Federations and at club level. So, if we are to change and progress as a sport, we need good governance and good links with members and clubs. Our foundation is the federations and these are the people we have to help.

THE ACTIVITIES OF the Event & Competition Commission are not new as events and competition have always been the core of European Athletics. The Commission has been adapted to reflect the creation of the Event & Competition department at European Athletics Head Office in Lausanne. Previously these were separate units.

We oversee the competition and events calendar making recommendations and proposals to the Executive Board and Council where appropriate. We come from two perspectives: bottom up, looking at the needs of our Member Federations, and top down, pushing the interests of European Athletics with the IAAF and organisers of multi-sport events like the Olympic Games. We start with youth events and build up to the senior level making sure we have an attractive and relevant calendar for us from a European perspective and matching our needs with those of the IAAF and the European Olympic Committees.

Our remit also covers the format and qualification system for the European Athletics Championships, our Permit Meetings system and the links to the IAAF One-Day Meetings Circuits, and competition rules and regulations. Part of our work also includes giving guidance and sharing best practice and educational content with our Member Federations.

Toralf Nilsson (SWE), Chair,

Event & Competition Commission

We now have 51 Member Federations and each one is different with specific challenges. We have to be ready to propose tailor-made solutions to them, not impose a 'one size fits all’ approach. There is a great deal of experience within the Member Federations themselves which we would like to share so as not to reinvent the wheel. Part of what we do is to organise events to share the solutions our federations have developed.

When we speak to Member Federations a common concern is funding. They all know there are different ways of gaining money; television, marketing, etc. But there are also other opportunities like the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. A great deal of what we are doing in athletics is in line with what the scheme is trying to achieve in terms of participation and health. Developing activities that meet the objectives of such a programme means our members can be successful in applying for this kind of funding.

At the European Athletics level we need to make sure our sport is better recognised. We gain a great deal of public attention for athletics at the Olympic Games or during the IAAF World Championships and European Athletics Championships but it is important that we are also recognised for the value we bring to society. When politicians decide funding, they are thinking

Alongside these activities, we are responsible for the delegates and officials, so we have a series of courses to educate potential candidates and panels to choose people to recommend to the Council.

Our main priority at present is to work closely with the IAAF and our stakeholders to restructure the calendar. We have a golden opportunity with new leadership at the head of IAAF to achieve a structure that both they and European Athletics are happy with. From our side, we want to create a stronger link between our system of Permit Meetings and a qualification system for the European Athletics Championships. If we look at UEFA and FIFA, they have a much longer qualification period building up to their big events which means they are in the eye of the media for much longer.

At the moment we are also working on a concept to restructure the European Athletics Team Championships. It’s a good event but probably a bit too long to hold the attention of the audience in the stadium and on television as it stands at present. We are developing some proposals for the Executive Board and Council to address during their next meetings.

Another priority is to build stronger links with the running community around Europe by linking our championships to mass participation events. We have some

about voters so we need to communicate better the positive things we are doing.

Over the next four years our objective is to help Member Federations understand and put in place the 2nd pillar of our strategy. If they are stronger with more effective leaders, well educated coaches and officials and more women in leadership positions, then we will be stronger overall.

Jean Gracia (FRA), Chair,

Member Federation

Development Commission

models of this approach, for example, where Denmark’s annual Copenhagen Half Marathon is a legacy of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 2014. We have clear objectives and I hope we can implement the changes within this mandate.

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Gracia: Better serving Member Federations

Nilsson focuses on calendar revamp

COMMISSIONSCOMMISSIONS

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THE GOLDEN TRACKS awards ceremony is always a glittering occasion and this year was no exception. Hosted in Lausanne at the Swisstech Convention Center, the evening saw European Athletics representatives shed tracksuits for ball gowns and tuxedos to honour some of the great performers of 2015. Opening the evening, European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen welcomed the guests and set the scene for the awards saying: “We are here to celebrate the best of European Athletics. These awards are decided by votes from athletes, member federations, the media and the public. Over 80,000 votes were cast and we hope that the excellent performances of the winners will serve as an inspiration to all athletes around Europe.”

Topping the bill, of course, were the European Athletes of the Year, Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers and British long jumper Greg Rutherford who were recognised following their magnificent seasons. Young Polish shot-putter Konrad Bukowiecki and Swiss hurdler Noemi Zbären were also honoured as the Rising Stars of 2015 during the Golden Tracks ceremony held as part of the European Athletics Convention.

Fans from around Europe engaged with the awards and cast their votes through our European

Main: Smiling faces of success:

Rutherford and Schippers are

clearly delighted with their

Golden Tracks trophies

Celebration of athletics as stars come out for glittering Golden Tracks awards ceremony

Athletics Facebook page and @EuroAthletics Twitter handle. All four winners received Golden Tracks trophies after topping the votes.

Schippers joined Sweden’s Carolina Klüft (2003 and 2006), Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva (2005 and 2008) and Croatia’s Blanka Vlasic (2007 and 2010) as double winners of the title and became the first woman ever to win a Golden Tracks trophy two years in a row. It was

her 200m win at the Beijing World Championships that took the world by storm. President Hansen said: “You get tears in your eyes thinking about it. This is a European woman winning against the biggest stars from all around the world. For me that was maybe the biggest moment of 2015.”

Accepting her award from President Hansen, she said: “This was a very

special year. The European title and a European record, silver and gold at the world championships… I can’t believe it.” Dafne hopes her example will inspire her fellow countrymen and women to great heights as hosts of the Amsterdam 2016 European Athletics Championships. “We have a strong team and everyone trains hard. When competing in your own country there’s that extra motivation and I’m sure this will help us win more medals.”

Greg Rutherford received his award from IAAF

Glory for Schippers and Rutherford

GOLDEN TRACKS

“Over 80,000 votes were cast and we hope that the

excellent performances of the winners will serve

as an inspiration to all athletes around Europe.”

President Svein Arne Hansen

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President Sebastian Coe, who was present throughout the Convention. Rutherford was clearly thrilled about the honour. “Coming up for an award like this is a huge thing. For me to be the guy that’s chosen is incredible. With Mo Farah, I thought I was playing for second place, so I’m a bit shocked to win, but it is amazing.

“I’ve been very fortunate to win the Golden Tracks award. It’s a very prestigious award and I’m the first long jumper, male or female, to win so I’m absolutely over the moon and want to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted.”

Rising stars Konrad Bukowiecki and Noemi Zbären were both looking ahead to the future. “I feel fantastic and I’m very proud to get this Golden Tracks award,” said Bukowiecki. “Who knows maybe in future I won’t be a Rising Star but the main Golden Tracks winner."

Bukowiecki, 18, has had a remarkable 2015 with the crowning glory coming in July with gold at the European Athletics Junior Championships. In the process he has broken records galore. He had already broken the world junior indoor record with a 6kg shot before his triumph in Eskilstuna. Then,

PROFILE: DAFNE SCHIPPERS

Age: 23Born: Utrecht, NetherlandsHonours:Gold, 200m, IAAF World Championships 2015, BeijingGold, 60m, European Indoor Championships, PragueGold, 100m, European Championships 2014, ZurichGold, 200m, European Championships 2014, ZurichSilver, 100m, IAAF World Championships 2015, BeijingBronze, Heptathlon, IAAF World Championships 2013, MoscowEuropean Athlete of the Year, 2014, 2015

After winning gold in Bejing“Give me some time to think about what is happening to me. I cannot believe it. What a championship it has been for me.”

Season highlightsMarch, Prague, 60m gold at the European Athletics Indoor Championships with a new personal best of 7.05. Even so, she was undecided about focusing on sprinting versus the lure of heptathlon. That decision was quickly made: Schippers dedicated the summer to sprinting – and what a summer it proved to be.

August, Beijing IAAF World Championships 200m gold in 21.63, a championship and national record and the third fastest time in history. The gold came just four days after she took silver in the 100m in 10.81, the fastest time by a European woman in 2015 and another national record.

Her performance heralded the arrival of a new star in the fast lanes of the 100m and 200m. Not since Fanny Blankers-Koen, winner of four Olympic golds in London, 1948, has the Netherlands had a woman sprinter of such ability. How proud she is to be talked of in the same breath as Blankers-Koen? “It is good for the country. It is good for Europe.”

For the Dutch Athletics Federation and the organisers in Amsterdam, the European Athletics Championships could not be staged at a better moment, with the excitement of having a true superstar running for the host nation.

PROFILE: GREG RUTHERFORD

Age: 28Born: Milton Keynes, Great BritainHonours:Gold, IAAF World Championships 2015, BeijingGold, Commonwealth Games, 2014, GlasgowGold, European Championships 2014, ZurichGold, London 2012 Olympic GamesEuropean Athlete of the Year, 2015

On winning gold in Beijing“It’s unbelievable. This was my best ever performance.” After joining Daley Thompson (decathlon), Linford Christie (100m), Sally Gunnell (400m hurdles) and Jonathan Edwards (triple jump) as Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European champions. “The names that are in there are some of the greatest in British history. I can’t even imagine putting myself with those guys.”

Season highlightsFebruary, Birmingham, Indoor Grand Prix win with an indoor PB of 8.17m. June brought a Diamond League win of 8.35m in Birmingham and another of 8.25m in Oslo. He pulled himself back from disappointment in London in July to hit form in Beijing. His 4th round jump of 8.41m saw him leave the rest of the field behind, making him the first British athlete ever to hold all available outdoor titles simultaneously. Another Diamond League victory in September in Zurich confirmed his as winner of the IAAF Diamond Race.

Greg’s story started a decade ago when, at age 18, he won gold at the European Athletics Junior Championships in Kaunas with a leap of 8.14m. Winning the European Athlete of the Year award ten years later makes a perfect end to the season. He had so much wanted to complete that full set of golds and he achieved it in style. He has proved himself the master of the big occasion. Lynn Davies, Britain’s 1964 Olympic long jump champion, summed Rutherford up telling the BBC: “He’s very good at seizing the opportunity on the biggest stage and he performed like an Olympic champion."

in Zagreb in September, he broke the world junior all-time best of 20.78m using the 7.26kg shot. “Next year is very important with the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam. I expect to be in the final and hopefully win a medal,” he said. With his record, it would be unwise to doubt him.

Zbären drew a big cheer from the local hosts having been named the women’s Rising Star after a brilliant performance winning the 100m hurdles in a championships record time of 12.71 at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Tallinn in July. Christophe Seiler, President of Swiss Athletics, proudly presented the award to

Zbären who was delighted to be honoured at home.“It feels wonderful to reach gold,” she said. “I always

set my goals high so I’m not finished yet. I hope to reach even higher in the future.” The evening, which was streamed live on the homepage of european-athletics.org, did not just focus on current athletes but was also an occasion to celebrate the work of some of the unsung heroes of athletics around Europe in the Women’s Leadership and Coaching Awards (see p21).

Above: From the left,

Greg Rutherford,

Konrad Bukowiecki,

Noemi Zbären and

Dafne Schippers

alongside President

Svein Arne Hansen

“I’m the first long jumper to win this award so I’m

absolutely over the moon to have won”

Greg Rutherford

GOLDEN TRACKS

EUROPEAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

14 | INSIDE TRACK INSIDE TRACK | 15

STATE OF OUR SPORT

PREPARATIONS FOR THE Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships are in full swing following the inaugural meeting of the local organising committee in early November. The 2018 championships will take place from 7-12 August at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium – the third time the event has been held in Germany after Stuttgart 1986 and Munich 2002.

Michael Müller, the Governing Mayor of Berlin, underlined the importance of the event for the city: "I am delighted that Berlin will be showcased again in 2018 as a sports city. The memories of the successful 2009 World Championships on the same site will be revived. It is fantastic to experience athletics at this great stadium." Müller is confident that 2018 will be a success: "The atmosphere at our first meeting was beneficial. All partners are pulling together.”

Dr. Clemens Prokop, President of the German Athletics Association (DLV), reaffirmed this sentiment. Prokop said that after the 2009 IAAF World Championships there was a general upswing in the popularity of German athletics. "New athletes are always attracted by such events in their home country."

And the overall effect is not to be underestimated: "I remember that children in kindergarten were inspired to emulate Robert Harting and start to throw the discus."

Frank Kowalski, CEO of BEM 2018, gave his first impressions: "We feel comfortable here, both in the city as well as in our new offices in the Olympic Park. We understand

the enormity of our task, but face it with enthusiasm. We want to make a difference, to be innovative. The first important task is to create the timetable. The audience needs to know what to expect."

The former DLV Event Director also explained that the 2018 European Athletics Championships will be part of the inaugural "European Sports Championships" that will run from 1-12 August. Glasgow will host the six other European Championships over the 12 days.

European Sports Championships taking shape Gymnastics and Golf have joined the prestigious line up of leading sports who will stage their European Championships together in 2018 for the first time in their history. The two new additions complete the roster alongside Athletics, Aquatics, Cycling, Rowing and Triathlon, who have decided to come together for the first time for the European Sports Championships.

The Presidents of European Athletics, Aquatics (LEN), Cycling (UEC), Rowing (FISA) and Triathlon (ETU) have welcomed European Gymnastics (UEG) and Golf Europe into a sporting partnership that will create a strong new multi-sport event on the world stage, attracting a projected television audience of around 850 million and an even wider audience via multiple digital platforms.

The newly-formed 2018 Board has also made the important step of ratifying the organisational rules and decision-making

processes, ensuring strong governance going forward. This innovative new approach by the governing bodies brings the existing European Championships together from seven sports in a sustainable format once every four years in order to continue building their prestige, profile and media exposure.

Around 1,500 athletes will compete in Berlin as part of the European Athletics Championships while approximately 3,025 athletes will visit Scotland for the other six events. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will be the broadcast partner for the combined championships, which are expected to generate more than 2,750 hours of programming across Europe’s biggest broadcasters.

As President Svein Arne Hansen said in his opening remarks: “We are looking forward to a fantastic European Athletics Championships in Berlin in 2018 as part of this exciting multi-sport concept. We are sure the European Sports Championships will bring additional value and benefits to athletics in Europe and to the Berlin championships.”

EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot said: “With seven sports now part of the first edition, the European Sports Championships will be the centrepiece of the sports season in Europe and public service media is proud to participate in the promotion of European sports and its athletes through extensive free-to air coverage across television, digital and radio.”

Berlin 2018 organising committee in place

I WOULD LIKE to congratulate the Berlin 2018 local organising committee which, in early November, had its first official meeting ahead of the European Athletics Championships in just over two and a half years. Berlin will host the 2018 Championships through 7-12 August. It promises to be a fantastic event, and you can read more about the organisers’ initial thoughts on page opposite. Berlin 2018 will be the “beacon” of the inaugural "European Sports Championships" concept, with athletics, aquatics, cycling, golf, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon staging their individual European Championships together for the first time.

Make no mistake, the “European Sports Championships” is a big opportunity for European Athletics. The new approach by the governing bodies to create a combined championships is what television is asking for: the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is an enthusiastic broadcast partner.

The newly-formed Board of the 2018 European Sports Championships has now ratifiied the organisational rules and decision-

Preparing for the European Athletics Championships, future hosts and building our presence in running

Berlin and Beyond

making processes. These rules include a veto clause in the event European Athletics is not in agreement with important decisions. To be clear, European Athletics will always keep full control of our television rights and marketing rights, and we will work closely with the European Sports Championships Management to control the identity of the European Athletics Championships. We will be in the driving seat throughout this project.

Our recently formed European Athletics Marketing Co. will be working on exploiting the marketing rights for Berlin 2018 among other rights. We have kicked off the company with its first Board meeting, and we will be working hard, under the leadership of Council member Libor Varhanik, to find the optimal solution for the marketing rights of the European Athletics Championships and European Athletics Indoor Championships.

We will, however, look to offer some flexibility when it comes to marketing rights for our other events. We are currently planning an intermediate period 2016-2019 where we position ourselves in the market and test the waters in certain areas, with

a brand new sales concept to take to the market from 2020 onwards.

Meanwhile, our Event Bidding system is working well with our new Evaluation Commission members. We have received a strong response to our annual Event Bidding questionnaire, with 73 declarations of interest from 26 Member Federations to organise our 19 sporting and non-sporting events through 2017-2022. There are at least three federations interested in organising each of European Athletics' major events, with all 19 sporting and non-sporting events having at least one potential bidder. A record number of 12 Member Federations remain interested in bidding for the 2022 European Athletics Championships!

Away from our competitions, we have seen some strong developments in our initiatives related to the running movement in Europe. With the support of our Member Federations, European Athletics has achieved an early milestone with over 100 road races registered and certified on our Quality and Safety Standards platform (www.european-running4all.org). The figures confirm the strong response from Member Federations and race organisers showing that they understand the benefits of a system to assess and publicise the quality of mass participation races across the continent. So far, nearly 30 European countries have races certified on the platform – a fantastic collective effort!

We had great success in engaging with the running movement via the European Week of Sport (EWoS), which took place from 7-13 September, initiated by the European Commission. Working closely with the Commission in Brussels, European Athletics persuaded organisers of existing races across the continent to get on board and help promote the initiative. More than 120 road races signed up to the EWoS website to be a part of the week itself or to promote the event during a promotion period running from 14 to 30 September. About 300,000 runners took part in the registered races.

Christian Milz, CEO of European Athletics

OFFICIAL NEWS

16 | INSIDE TRACK INSIDE TRACK | 17

RUNNING FOR ALL

WHEN EUROPEAN ATHLETICS launched its Quality and Safety standards earlier this year it felt that we were pushing at an open door. The rise of mass participation running events across Europe meant that there was a clear demand from Member Federations and from runners for some standards they could rely on. Organisers, too, said they would welcome independent certification of their events which would help with their promotion.

The standards under the recognisable Running for All brand, were created to be both easy to access and to cover a wide range of road race events. The web platform is simple and well designed and gives access to the standards in 16 different languages. There was endorsement from some of the big names in marathon and mass participation running including Lord Sebastian Coe, new President of the IAAF.

European Athletics' Quality and Safety Standards off to a flying start with over 110 races signed up and new ones being added all the time.

Off and Running

But, until the scheme was launched it was hard to know what the take up would actually be. Would organisers see the benefits of registering and would runners across Europe begin to recognise Running for All as a reliable brand? Now, several months later, we can start to see how it is working in practice and the early results are impressive. Helped by the support of athletics federations from around Europe, over 110 races have joined the scheme and their feedback has been positive.

“The figures confirm the strong responses we have received from Member Federations and race organisers over the past months. They understand the benefits of a system to assess and publicise the quality of mass participation races across the continent,” said European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen.

“It was our end-of-year target to have 100 races certified and this means we are well ahead of schedule and will continue to endorse as many races as possible.”

European Athletics Vice President Jean Gracia has been getting the message out and said: “European Athletics continues to explain the Quality and Safety Standards to Member Federations and race organisers and we have been encouraged by their response.

"We recently enjoyed a successful meeting with the Association of International Marathons and Road Races (AIMS) and we look forward to collaborating in the future with the objective of promoting road running across Europe.”

More than half of the races that have registered for Running for All certification have reached the 5-star standard, the highest the scheme awards. These races,

mainly marathons and half marathons, are held in places as far apart as Omsk, Siberia in the east and Lisbon, Portugal in the west. Each one has demonstrated a comprehensive level of safety and security and high quality services for a large number of runners.

Among the 5-star races is the oldest marathon in Europe, the Košice Peace Marathon in Slovakia. First staged in 1924, this unique race has survived the torments of war and now attracts around 10,000 participants from all over the world. Talking about the race’s new status, Managing Director Branislav Koniar says: “We are very pleased that the final evaluation was so clear for Košice Peace Marathon, as our ambition is to be one of the leading marathons in Europe when considering technical, safety and organisational preparation.

“The European Athletics Running for All standards are a way of classifying races, something we are all aware of in other aspects of life, so why not in running? Customers today are searching for product and service evaluations before they make the final decision, and it’s great that European Athletics is the authority, meaning the ratings have clear value.”

Striving for standardsMany race organisers are keen runners and former runners themselves and it is no surprise that they see the Running for All standards as another challenge to meet. Several organisers of events that have reached the 3-star standard are clear that they see it as a springboard to the top level in future years.

Marko Jakopović President of the Organising Committee of the 3-star Zagreb Marathon was pleased with the recognition but is determined this will not be the end. “To be certified as a 3-Star Race by European Athletics is an important confirmation of quality and Zagreb Marathon is very proud of it,” he says. “We are happy that our work has been recognised and also hope that this status will help runners recognise Zagreb Marathon as one of the best marathons in the region.”

This year’s race, held in October, attracted more participants than ever as well as more prize money and better media coverage and Jakopović and his team are already looking to the future. “Our goal is to achieve the highest level of quality - not just in the number of participants but also in their satisfaction with all aspects of the race. It won't be easy but we are ready

to work even harder to achieve a 5-Star rating in the years to come.”

The launch of the standards benefited from the European Week of Sport (EWoS) which European Athletics was heavily involved in. Working closely with the European Commission in Brussels, European Athletics persuaded organisers of existing races to get on board and help promote the Commission’s initiative to raise awareness of the benefits of sport. Promoting the two events in parallel also positioned European Athletics and its Member Federations as active players in the running market.

A platform for the futureA successful launch and an initial group of races represents a big first step although Vice President Jean Gracia is clear the job is not complete. “We have to be players in the running movement and at present we’re not quite there. The web platform is part of that ambition but it’s part of the overall strategy where the final objective is that European Athletics and the Member Federations are at the centre of the running community.” The response to the launch this year is encouraging but there is much to be done to achieve that aim.

Clockwise from left: Budapest, Zagreb,

Siberia International

and Kosice Peace

marathons, and

Vidovdan Road Race

OFFICIAL NEWS

18 | INSIDE TRACK INSIDE TRACK | 1918 | INSIDE TRACK INSIDE TRACK | 19

TEAMWORK HAS BECOME a watchword in European Athletics in recent months so it was good to see that approach working in practice during the recent European Week of Sport (EWoS). Organised following a lead from the European Commission, the first Week of Sport took place in September with 34 participating countries working with partners to put on a range of activities under the theme ‘#BeActive’. The initiative brought together a number of already successful events under one umbrella.

European Athletics was an active partner in EWoS working closely with the European Commission in Brussels. Representatives of European Athletics persuaded organisers of existing races across the continent to get on board and help promote the Commission’s initiative designed to raise awareness of the benefits of sport and physical activity. In the end, 72 mass participation races in 27 countries were run as part of the week and a further 44 races took place during the EWoS promotional period. The Copenhagen Half Marathon in Denmark, the SEB Tallinn Marathon in Estonia, the Wizz Air Budapest Half Marathon in Hungary and the Bristol Half Marathon in Great Britain were just four of the events which were estimated to have attracted around 300,000 participants in total.

European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen welcomed the positive response from race organisers, saying that with their help athletics is making an important contribution to the overall success of the event. “I want to thank Vice President Jean Gracia, who spearheaded our campaign, plus the staff and others who were involved for all their efforts,” he said. “This demonstrates our commitment to the promotion of fitness and underlines how athletics can be relevant in the lives of Europeans.”

The slogan and Twitter hashtag #BeActive were the focus of the EWoS communications campaign, which was fronted by a number of sporting personalities, including world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe (GBR) and 1988 Olympic javelin champion Tapio Korjus (FIN). For European Athletics, the campaign was an opportunity to raise the profile of its nascent Running for All brand and it also gave President Hansen the opportunity for an early

Main: Some of the almost 24,000

runners taking part in the 2015

Copenhagen half marathon

The European Week of Sport and meetings with the Commissioner for Sport show the benefits of collaboration in Europe

meeting with European Commissioner Tibor Navracsics in Brussels together with Vice President Gracia, who chairs the Member Federation Development Commission, and Honorary President Hansjörg Wirz.

At the meeting Navracsics thanked President Hansen and Gracia for European Athletics’ support in organising the EwoS and for delivering on a promise to sign up at least one race in each of the participating countries. The Commissioner, who has responsibility for sport, seemed genuinely to appreciate the importance of athletics. The meeting also uncovered a great deal of common ground and shared interests particularly in the area of grassroots sport. President Hansen left the meeting declaring “We can work together.” It was, he said, a “very cordial and productive meeting that showed us

the Commissioner really appreciates what we as a sport can deliver. It is clear that he wants to

work with us in a number of areas.”Hansen said his priority for the meeting

was to find ways that European Athletics and its Member Federations could access funding from the Commission’s Erasmus+ programme, which includes a budget of more than €230 million for

sport projects between 2015 and 2020. “Everyone agreed that athletics, with

nearly 50 million recreational runners, a network of Member Federations and more

than 20,000 clubs in the 28 EU countries, could play a big role in the Commission’s efforts to promote grassroots sport,” said Hansen.

Working with the Commission and unlocking new funding would be a big prize and change will now be taken at the staff level. Hansen also invited the Commissioner to send representatives to the Clubs System and Youth Conference in November to get a deeper understanding of how athletics works, to see some examples of best practice and to further explore opportunities to work together.

The European Week of Sport is being planned again for 2016 and, with such a promising start, it is exciting to imagine what progress can be made between European Athletics and the European Commission over the course of the year and beyond.

Working Together in Europe

EUROPEAN WEEK OF SPORT

INSIDE TRACK | 2120 | INSIDE TRACK

COUNCIL REPORT

THE MOOD AT the 145th European Athletics Council meeting in Frankfurt in early November was markedly different from the one that prevailed the last time the Council was together. The long-planned meeting aimed to cover a wide set of issues and coordinate their work ahead of the first full meeting of the IAAF Council in Monaco later in the month.

In the event, the meeting coincided with the publication by WADA of its report alleging doping and corruption that are currently being addressed by the IAAF, the

Member Federation development, integrity and 2017 event hosts were top of the agenda for the 145th European Athletics Council meeting in Frankfurt

European Athletics Council meets in Frankfurt

French authorities and others.Council members agreed unanimously

to give their full backing and support to the IAAF President Sebastian Coe in his efforts to lead the sport through the difficult and complicated process ahead.

The Council went on to approve the 2016 Education Programme for the development of Member Federations commencing with the CEO Conference in April. The full programme is as follows:� CEO Conference: 8-10 April 2016 in

Minsk/BLR (new date)

� High Performance Conference: November 2016

� Women’s Leadership Seminar: 1-4 April 2016 in Birmingham/GBR

� Medical Seminar: 3-4 July 2016 in Amsterdam/NED

� Coaches Management System Seminar: 2nd Half 2016

� Technical Officials Management System Seminar: 1st Half 2016 in Lisbon/POR

� Area Starters Course: date and venue to be confirmed

� CECS Level II Lecturers Course in Russian: date and venue to be confirmed

� Young Leaders Forum: July 2016 in Amsterdam/NED

� Coaching Summit Series: date and venue to be confirmed

Commissions and EventsThe Council heard reports from the newly convened European Athletics Commissions and spent considerable time examing the proposals of the Development Commission presented by Vice President Jean Gracia.

His report included an update on the progress of Running for All, the communiqué issued by participants at the Club Systems and Youth Conference and plans for the 2016 Education Programme.

The Council spent time examining bids for the 2017 European Athletics Team Championships Super League and the 2017 SPAR European Cross Country Championships. These events were awarded to the French city of Lille Métropole and the city of Šamorin in Slovakia. The awards were made by open votes following the Council’s acceptance of President Svein Arne Hansen’s proposal to replace secret ballots for all future decisions.

President Hansen said, “We congratulate Lille and Šamorin on being awarded their respective events. We are very confident that both will deliver excellent championships in 2017.

“I am also very happy with the way today’s decisions were made and what it says about the Council’s commitment to good governance. The Council agrees that from now on it is important for European Athletics to be as transparent as possible in all its major decisions.”

Left: President Svein Arne Hansen and CEO

Christian Milz sign an agreement with the

President of the French Athletics Federation,

Bernard Amsalem, for the 2017 Team

Championships to be organised in Lille Métropole

21 | INSIDE TRACK

European Athletics recognised the 19 winners of its Women’s Leadership Awards and 43 winners of its

Coaching Awards during the Golden Tracks ceremony

Winners named for Women's Leadership and Coaching Awards

GOLDEN TRACKS

EUROPEAN ATHLETICS HAS worked hard in recent years to promote the importance of women in leadership positions so it was appropriate that the centrepiece of this effort, the Women’s Leadership Awards, were given their own place at the Golden Tracks. Each of the winners was selected by their national athletics federation for work and accomplishments, other than in competition, that have made a significant contribution and serve as an example of leadership and other values of the sport of athletics.

Janine Geigele of Switzerland accepted an award on the night as a representative of all the 19 winners. She was nominated by Swiss Athletics for her long history of media and PR work for the sport dating back to her time as a young athlete. European Athletics Vice President Jean Gracia presented the award and said: “I congratulate Janine and all the winners of this year’s awards. Each of them is a wonderful role model for young women and we need to keep pushing for women to hold leading positions in athletics organisations.”

Each award winner receives a certificate, a European Athletics silver pin and a limited edition artwork print created by Geoffroy Jadoul of Belgium. In addition to the awards, European Athletics awarded three scholarships to young women identified by their federations as future leaders. The three, from Latvia, Belarus and Bosnia Herzegovina, will attend a leadership development programme that will be delivered in 2016.

Coaches honoured43 athletics coaches were also recognised at the Golden Tracks for the important contribution they make to the sport. The coach of each senior European indoor champion from Prague is automatically nominated with the others being put forward by their Member Federations for their excellence in coaching. The awards are decided by a Jury who recommend those who they feel exemplify the values of European Athletics.

Urs and Marlis Goldi, coaches to Selina Büchel (pictured), current European 800m indoor champion, received their awards from Vice President Frank Hensel who said: “We are glad that 24 federations made coaching award nominations. We hope that this figure continues to grow in the coming years, with so many talented athletes and coaches emerging across Europe.” All winners will receive a certificate and European Athletics silver pin from their Member Federation.

22 | INSIDE TRACK INSIDE TRACK | 23

GRASSROOTS

TALK TO ALMOST any athlete about what has made them successful and sooner or later most will talk about their home club. This was the place, often unglamorous, where they found a family in athletics willing to invest in their early promise. It was the place where a community of volunteers would turn out in all weathers to marshal, coach and support. And it was to strengthen this unique network that the inaugural European Athletics Club Systems and Youth Conference was convened.

Frankfurt played host to this first gathering in November and welcomed over 140 representatives from 46 European

Behind every successful athlete there is a club that nurtured their young talent and the first Club Systems and Youth Conference aimed to strengthen and support this vital resource for athletics.

In the Club

countries. The delegates were all active in their country’s clubs and youth programmes and were looking to gain support, share best practice ideas and build their network of like-minded individuals.

The conference focused on ways to help Member Federations develop strategies to achieve three things: to strengthen their national club systems, to attract young athletes and to retain them in athletics.

Explaining the need for such an event, European Athletics CEO Christian Milz said: “We all agree that clubs are a key interface between the sport and its participants and that it is in everyone’s interests that all sides

priorities related to the themes discussed.“Our sport requires a more unified

approach towards young people and it is important that European Athletics takes a leading role. I am very encouraged by the quality of the participant’s input and by the enthusiasm of all of them for the challenge of bringing more and more young people into athletics,” Gracia concluded.

Six-part communiquéThe conference generated numerous ideas and these, along with feedback from an online survey, will be taken to the Development Commission and Council to turn into an action plan. At the conclusion of the Conference, the participants agreed a communiqué containing the following six statements to be presented to European Athletics and others with an interest in the future success and development of our sport.

1) We appreciate the leadership of European Athletics for the vision and initiative to organise this conference which provided the opportunity to

discuss important matters related to Clubs and Youth with representatives of other federations. We suggest that such conferences become a biennial feature of the support that is provided to the Member Federations in the future.

2) We stand for the integrity and fair play of athletics which are fundamental to the sport’s long-term health and sustainability. It is of paramount importance that the IAAF’s Code of Ethics be upheld in its entirety by everyone involved at every level of the sport. Where breaches occur appropriate action should be taken swiftly and transparently to signal the sport’s commitment to its ideals.

3) We strongly support European Athletics’ position and statements on the importance of the grassroots of athletics. There is a unity of activities taking place at the local and basic level with the elite competitions and other high-profile aspects of the sport. It must be understood that each aspect adds value to the others and all contribute to the long-term sustainability

work more closely together to promote the values of athletics such as health, education and youth integration.”

In the build up to the conference, European Athletics had commissioned a study into the different club and youth activities among Member Federations, and a key part of the programme was the presentation of initial findings. By comparing approaches and sharing successes and challenges European Athletics Vice President Jean Gracia hopes clubs around Europe will have the chance to learn from each other and drive performance.

“During the Conference we got a chance to hear ideas from Federation leaders, clubs specialists and youth advocates which will help us shape our strategy,” he said. “It was very interesting comparing the situations of our Member Federations in detail and we will finalise a report of our findings to use as a base for improvement.”

Participants discussed future cooperation between clubs, Member Federations and European Athletics in order to obtain a clearer picture of the current level of development, needs and

of the sport. We recommend that all Member Federations take note of European Athletics’ position.

4) We call attention to the importance of Clubs and other grassroots organisations seen in a variety of models in the different national systems and highlight the invaluable contribution of volunteers. Both the organisations and the systems need to be supported as they adapt and evolve to meet the demands of athletes, coaches, partners and society in our ever-changing world.

We call on European Athletics to continue to provide leadership, guidance, resources and other support to the Member Federations as they fulfil this role. We strongly support European Athletics’ efforts to gather information on the circumstances, structures, challenges and needs of all its Member Federations as the foundation for evidence-based policy making and customised development support programmes. European Athletics must continue and increase these efforts and share the findings with the federations and others through appropriate channels.

5) We call attention to the fact that athletics for youngsters is not the same, and should not be the same, as athletics for adults. Special attention must be given to the following points:� Age- and development-appropriate

activities, fun and play aspects for the youngest children and the avoidance of premature specialisation in the early teenage years;

� Promotion of athletics within schools and building the links between schools and the sport;

� Protection and safeguarding of children. We call on European Athletics to

provide leadership, guidance, resources and other support to the Member Federations in this area.

6) Finally, we thank all those involved in the organisation and delivery of the Clubs System and Youth Conference.

President Svein Arne Hansen engages with

participants of the Club Systems & Youth Conference

24 | INSIDE TRACK

HYÈRES 2015

1. It is the first time that France has hosted these championships, which this year are celebrating their 22nd staging, and the venue of Hyères has the distinction of being the oldest town in the Côte d’Azur. 2. The women’s races should be classics. In the senior event, Great Britain’s Gemma Steele will be determined to defend her title successfully and once more is set to face Sweden’s Meraf Bahta (who was third last year), while Dutch middle-distance star, Sifan Hassan, should be in the mix. 3. What a noise there will be should France’s Sophie Duarte repeat her glory of 2013 when she won the women’s senior race in Belgrade. She was fifth last

The last major athletics event of the season looks set to be a classic. Here are some things to look out for in Hyères

10 things to look forward to at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships

year in Samokov and, as she said at the time about hosting the championships: "It’s terrific for French cross country and for the French team. It’s a chance for young athletes who are (knocking on) the French team doors, too."

4. Great Britain, under the guise of the United Kingdom, have topped the medal table every year since Dublin in 2009, winning nine medals 12 months ago, with four golds, four silvers and a bronze. 5. How testing will the conditions be? The circuit on the Hippovar horse race course is surrounded by pine forests in an area where there is sun for 300 days a year. But as Samuel Bonaudo, one of the event

coordinators, said: "Bordering the Mediterranean, the racecourse is nice and flat but we wanted to spice it up a bit. As such, we’ve transported earth to the site to create five mounds, plus two trucks of sand to create a section where it’s trickier to get a foothold." 6. Legacy works. Long before any other nation, Ukraine announced they were sending full teams for every event and it was no surprise. Their undisputed star, Serhiy Lebid, is the finest male runner in the history of these championships, having won the senior men’s race on nine occasions, between 1998 and 2010. His legacy continues to inspire his fellow countrymen.

7. Bulgaria’s Militsa Mircheva took silver in the under-23 race in Samokov last year in front of the home crowd. Will she be able to repeat that strong performance once again, this time in France? 8. Great Britain’s Bobby Clay cannot wait for the championships having missed last winter with injury. If she makes the podium in Hyères, it will complete quite a 12 months because she won the 1500m at the European Athletics Junior Championships in Eskilstuna in July. She will be up against Germany’s Alina Reh who also made a fantastic impression when taking double gold over 3000m and 5000m in Eskilstuna. 9. Who will be the Turkish king this time? A year ago in Samokov, teammates Polat Kemboi Arikan and Ali Kaya finished in the same time of 32:19 in the men’s senior race. Arikan was given the victory and it could be some re-match. 10. The SPAR European Cross Country Championships is the last major athletics event of the season. The psychological importance of it can be immense in terms of beating a rival heading into a year as big as 2016, with the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam and the Olympic Games in Rio not far away.

Top, above and right: Sophie Duarte (FRA)

Polat Arikan (TUR)

& Meraf Bahta (SWE)

OFFICIAL NEWS

26 | INSIDE TRACK INSIDE TRACK | 27

COMMUNICATION IS ABOUT a lot more than words alone and the benefits of the annual European Athletics Convention go beyond meetings. This is the chance for Member Federations to look the leadership in the eye, to hear first hand about what is going on around Europe and to pick up on the concerns of others.

It’s the time to renew old acquaintances and to build new relationships around a shared interest in the future success of European Athletics. Networking is part of working too and it was without apology that the event planners allowed plenty of opportunity for participants to meet informally.

The casual remarks shared over coffee or lunch are an important way of testing the water for ideas and opinions and can have an influence which extends way beyond the occasion where they were originally made.

Networking always extends late into the evening facilitated, of course, by the Opening Dinner of the Convention and Golden Tracks Awards Night, the highlight of European Athletics’ social calendar. Life looks very different when the food, the wine and the company are good and this is the place where colleagues become friends.

As speakers to the convention stressed, Athletics has some challenges ahead but these relationships will build the foundation of trust upon which decisions can be made and change implemented.

Getting together

CONVENTION IN PICTURES

Golden Tracks

1. Svein Arne Hensen pauses for a selfie with

Sebastian Coe as they are introduced to the

audience by compere Andy Kay

2. Executive Board members Frank Hensel,

Jean Gracia, Svein Arne Hansen, Dobromir

Karamarinov, and Christian Milz

3. Entertainment for the glittering occasion

was provided by the orchestra Wind Band

Neuchâtelois.

4. Soloist Jessica Comeau added to the

golden evening with a rendition of the title

song from James Bond movie Goldfinger

5. European Athletics CEO Christian Milz

completes the lineup as he addresses the

assembled guests

Social Occasion

1. The City of Lausanne does things in

style by organising the Opening Dinner

of the Convention at the prestigious Beau

Rivage Palace

2. President Hansen greets IOC President

Thomas Bach on the steps of the Convention

3. "A word in your ear." Marc Vuilleumier

the Sports Director of the City of Lausanne

takes a moment to chat to President

Hansen over dinner

4. Good wine, good food and good company

were all in evidence in Lausanne

5. President Svein Arne Hansen hosts a table

which includes IAAF President Sebastian

Coe, Marc Vuilleumier and Economy &

Sports Councillor for the Canton de Vaud,

Philippe Leuba1 1

2 2

3 4

5

3

5

4

IN SHORT

28 | INSIDE TRACK

EUROPEAN ATHLETICS HAS received 73 declarations of interest from 26 Member Federations

to organise its 19 sporting and non-sporting events between 2017-2022. The responses to the now-closed annual event bidding questionnaire sees at least three federations interested in organising each of European Athletics' major events, with 12 retaining an interest in bidding for the 2022 European Athletics Championships.

All of the 19 events to be held between 2017 and 2022 have potential hosts lining up to bid. Meanwhile there are bidding processes already underway for

European Athletics' major events in 2019 and 2020. France (Paris) and Georgia (Tbilisi) are preparing to submit their bids for the European Athletics Championships in 2020, following Amsterdam 2016 and Berlin 2018.

Minsk/Belarus, Glasgow/Great Britain, Apeldoorn/the Netherlands and Torun/Poland are in the running for the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 2019 following Belgrade 2017. The candidates will present their bids to the European Athletics Council during its meeting in Amsterdam in April 2016 and the events will subsequently be allocated.

Strong interest in hosting European Athletics events

News in Brief

THE NEW HOME of European Athletics in Lausanne continues to take shape with the project on

track for an opening in September 2016. As the excitement builds, here are a few snapshots to show how European Athletics staff are feeling.

“Owning our headquarters – a sustainable building with minimal environmental impact – will secure the long-term future of European Athletics. The new space will be very welcome and allow us to grow steadily.”Christian Milz – CEO

“Since I started working for European Athletics 11 years ago we have gone from seven staff members to over 20. This is a big step for all of us and we look forward to new offices with ideal working conditions.”Bernadette Brun – Senior Event Manager

“Now the European Athletics family will have a new ‘Home’ for all our members to visit and enjoy. The new offices will be a great opportunity for more gatherings

between staff and external partners.”Marcel Wakim – Head of Event Operations

“We are all looking forward to the move. The office is currently separated into two sections and it will be a relief to be close together and able to communicate properly.”Léonie Clément – Corporate Activities & Administration Manager

Let’s leave the last word to the President“Through the construction of our new ‘Home of European Athletics’ we want to be sure to include all Member Federations in this process. We will be celebrating the inauguration of our headquarters in autumn 2016 and we expect the entire European Athletics family to share this historic moment for our federation altogether.” Svein Arne Hansen – President

Follow the development of the new building as it happens via the ‘New Headquarters’ link on the homepage of european-athletics.org.

European Athletics headquarters taking shape

TEAM EUROPEAN ATHLETICS shone again at the Lausanne Marathon as well as securing

bragging rights in the 2nd AISTS Sports Quiz Night. Six staff members ran the Lausanne 10km in October joining 13,000 runners in beautiful weather conditions, ideal for running and which drew smiles all around the lakeside. The European Athletics team in the 10km race, which included Christian Milz (50:42) and Alexandre Milz (53:53), James Mulligan (40:13), Alessio Punzi (48.56), François Schrurs (50:40) and Christian Velarde (41:55), took 27th place in the overall team standings.

Congratulations to each staff member whose efforts underlined the "Your Sport for Life" message that European Athletics actively promotes in all its initiatives.

Separately, European Athletics claimed the unofficial title of smartest sports federation in the world! A three-person quiz team starring James Mulligan, Peter Sanderson and Francois Schrurs, won the closely fought AISTS Sports Quiz defeating teams from other prestigious sports organisations like IOC, FIVB, FIH, FIE, plus students on the AISTS Masters of Sports Administration course.

European Athletics secured the win by a clear margin and team members are already looking forward to defending the title next year although the question, “What is the name of long-distance legend Mo Farah’s celebration?” was a bit of a gift. Thankfully, the team gave the correct answer and won a famous victory.

GO Team! European Athletics staff make us proud