European Athletics has announced the 2014 programme of activities for the winners of its Future Women Leaders Scholarships who were named at last October’s European Athletics Convention in Tallinn, Estonia.
Nanna Brandt of Denmark, Bulgaria’s Yana Kasova and Melissa Robertson from Great Britain have been invited to attend next month’s Women in World Athletics (WIWA) Seminar in Kenilworth, Great Britain, and the European Athletics-UNESCO Young Leaders Forum, which will be staged in conjunction with this summer’s European Athletics Championships in Zurich, Switzerland.
The three were awarded the scholarships based on nominations made by their Member Federations in 2013.
The biennial scholarships, which were first given in 2009, make it possible for outstanding young women to take part in activities that will help them develop as leaders and build personal support networks for their work in athletics. Each edition of the programme is designed to take advantage of international activities already scheduled during the year in question.
Including this year’s group, a total of nine women have been awarded scholarships.
“European Athletics is a leader in promoting women in sport and this programme is one important element of our overall effort,” said Council member Sylvia Barlag, who heads the Women’s Leadership programme.
“I congratulate this year’s group on their selection and I am looking forward to working with them.”
The WIWA Seminar will be staged 4-7 April with the support of British Athletics, the IAAF Regional Development Centre in Moscow, Loughborough University, the University of Derby and UK Sport and will take place in conjunction with the British Athletics Officials Conference. It is part of a long-term programme of support for women leaders linked to the 2017 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in London.
The European Athletics-UNESCO Young Leaders Forum will be staged with the support of the Local Organising Committee of the 22nd European Athletics Championships and erdgas, the LOC’s partner in sustainable development and volunteering. It is a follow-up to successful editions staged in Gothenburg in 2006, Barcelona in 2010 and Helsinki in 2012.