OSLO (Press Release) – The European Athletics Council has backed President Svein Arne Hansen’s proposal to provide a support package for a new competition to be organised by the Small States of Europe in the Olympic year, starting in 2016.
The goal of the event is to provide an international team competition opportunity for athletes from the 10 countries of the Athletics Association of the Small States of Europe (AASSE) and other smaller countries in place of the European Athletics Team Championships, which is not staged in the Olympic year.
The package will include a grant of up to 150,000 EUR, the appointment of a Technical Delegate, and organisational advice.
“This is fantastic news and I am happy we are able to help our smaller Member Federations,” said President Hansen. “The support is fulfillment of the commitment outlined in my election manifesto to provide customised development opportunities for our different federations.
“We are aware that many of them do not send large teams to the Olympic Games or the Olympic-year European Athletics Championships, and therefore their athletes need the motivation that will be provided by this event.
“I want to be clear that this will be an event organised by the AASSE and the host federation and not part of the European Athletics competition programme.”
The Council closed its 144th meeting in Oslo on Sunday morning, with the next meeting scheduled for 9-10 November in Frankfurt.
