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President Hansen: World Championships must be back in Europe in 2023

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European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen has called for the 2023 IAAF World Championships to be brought back to Europe after the next two editions.

'I am convinced that we have to be in Europe in 2023 for the IAAF World Championships,” said President Hansen at the European Athletics Council meeting on Wednesday.

'As shown by the spectacular success of the recent World Championships in London, Europe is the centre of the athletics world and our athletes and fans deserve the stage the we can provide in any number of cities in 2023.”

Doha will host the World Championships in 2019, with Eugene taking the baton for 2021 – the first time a World Championships will be held outside of Europe for two consecutive editions.

'The IAAF must follow these two editions by ensuring 2023 is awarded to a city in Europe, especially taking into account it has now switched to a more targeted approach to event allocation instead of official bidding.

“Everyone in our European Athletics family understands how important it is for our global showpiece event to be hosted on our continent at regular intervals. This not only provides the ideal stage for excellent performances from the world's top athletes but also has a positive impact on television audiences and commercial income.

“We need to keep developing the sport here in Europe and everyone agrees the World Championships is the best tool for doing so,” said Hansen.

At the 149th Council meeting at the House of European Athletics in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Members agreed that a large number of proposed changes to the Constitution be put to vote at the upcoming Congress in Vilnius, Lithuania on 14 October.

Erich Teigamägi, the Council Member who led the Constitutional Review Working Group, said: “The CORE (Constitutional Review) Working Group have worked diligently on the review over the past year to ensure we are in line with the IAAF Constitution in terms of good governance and that our Constitution is a modern document in line with the times.”

President Hansen said: “Very importantly, a key proposed amendment is that from the 2019 Congress there will be at least one male and female among the President and three Vice Presidents, with at least two from each gender from 2027; and that among the 13 other Council Members, from the 2019 Congress we have at least three from each gender, from 2023 at least five from each gender, and from 2027 at least six from each gender.”

The Council also received updates on the programme for the upcoming Congress-Convention in the Lithuanian capital. On the back of the success of Europe at the World Championships in London, European Athletics has invited all European gold-medal winners to attend the Golden Tracks awards ceremony on the evening of 14 October, where the European Athletes of the Year and Rising Stars are recognised.

“For an athlete to become world champion is an amazing achievement and European Athletics is very proud of what they did in London. We understand and appreciate the dedication and passion they give to our sport and so we would like to recognise their feats at our Golden Tracks awards,” said Hansen.




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