Euromeetings.org

VALENCIA (ESP): The group of leading European meetings Euromeetings confirmed at todays spring meeting during the World Indoor Championships its tough stance in fight against doping. The organisation already in 1999 and later in 2006 recommended to its member meetings not to invite athletes who could cause negative publicity for the events. Doping offence could be one of such reasons. „We discussed to observe in this way mainly the athletes coming back from two or more years ban and since 2003,“ said Euromeetings president Rajne Soderberg. The meeting organisers will on Monday in Valencia participate at special forum called „Revitalising One-day Athletics“ in joint venture with agents organisation AAM.

VALENCIA (ESP): In first time common project meeting organisers (Euromeetings) and managers (AAM) met together at a forum organised in Valencia (nearly 70 participants) and spoke about current state and how to improve the one day meetings. With guests from IAAF (vice-president Bob Hersh), EAA (president Hansjorg Wirz) and commercial partners (shoe companies and TV stations) the more than 7 hours long forum brought many interesting points and discussions. The main goals for future are to improve the calendar, the competitions system and structure, mainly in connection with possible qualification system (for example one day meetings could be the qualifying meets for big championships like Olympic Games, World or European Championships). The other part to work on is to make from one day meetings so called hip and cool events, specifically for young generation. That means the top meetings are aiming to return to terrestrial TV stations, to improve the event presentation and programme in the stadium and to improve the needs of written media and photographers. Open question remained who should lead this process as both groups (organisers and agents) are seeking bigger word in similar projects within IAAF and EAA. For future other joint forums of Euromeetings and AAM are planned.