Ljubljana, SloveniaA proposal by the European Athletics Association Council to stage the European Athletics Championships every two years received unanimous support at the European Athletics Association’s 19th Congress.
The unanimous vote, cast by representatives from a record 45 federations who gathered in the Slovenian capital, included a provision specifically stipulating that the additional Championship cannot be added in an Olympic year, along with a recommendation that the EAA immediately open discussions with the IAAF to explore ways in which the international athletics calendar can be restructured.
The wish to add another championship, EAA President Hansjörg Wirz of Switzerland said, “Has to consider the reality that in a four-year cycle we have the Olympic Games, we have two World Championships, and one European Championship. The question is, ‘Where?’”
“We have to come to a procedure to discuss with our world federation how we can restructure the whole of athletics,” Wirz said. While noting the leading role Europe plays in the sport globally, Wirz admitted bluntly, “It’s quite a huge project.” A change, if any, would not come before 2009.
The Congress also voted to add Under-23 races for men and women to the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in 2006, at first as a project event, and officially removed the 200 meters from the indoor championships. Additionally, beginning this year in Kaunas, the 2000m Steeplechase for women will be replaced by the 3000m Steeplechase at the continental junior championships.
IAAF General Secretary Istvan Gyulai addressed the Congress on behalf of IAAF President Lamine Diack. Gyulai reiterated the importance of European athletics to World athletics and praised the work of the EAA and the European federations and the successful cooperation with the IAAF.
Future EAA Conference and Congress dates were also approved. An Extraordinary Congress will be held in conjunction with October’s European Athletics Calendar Conference in Reykjavik to discuss the new EAA constitution; the 2006 Calendar Conference will be held at Bulgaria’s Albena Resort on the Black Sea; while Cannes, France will host the 2007 Congress.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF