European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen met with the heads of the African and Asian federations while attending the Balkan Championships at the weekend.

Hansen travelled to Pitesti in Romania for meetings with Col. Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, President of the Confederation of African Athletics, and Dahlan Al-Hamad, Asian Athletics Association President.

'It is always a pleasure to meet my counterparts and friends from the other Area Associations,' said Hansen. 'There is a lot to discuss leading up to the IAAF Congress later this month, and I took the opportunity to raise some important issues.

'I also was able to update the Presidents on my activities in the first 100 days of office, sharing some ideas of what we doing in Europe, while listening to what is happening in athletics in other parts of the world.'

Hansen was joined in Pitesti by Vice Presidents Dobromir Karamarinov, also President of the Balkan Athletics Federation, and Frank Hensel.

'I want to congratulate Dobromir and Romanian Athletic Federation President Ion Sandu for their organisation of an excellent championships,' said Hansen during his Opening Ceremony speech.

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