European Athletics recognised the 19 winners of its 2015 Women’s Leadership Awards during the Golden Tracks ceremony in Lausanne on 17 October.
Each of the winners was selected by her national athletics federations based on the criteria “work and accomplishments, other than in competition, that are a significant contribution that serves as an example of leadership and other values of the sport of athletics”. The full list of winners is found under 'Related Documents'.
Janine Geigele of Switzerland was presented with the first award by European Athletics Vice President Jean Gracia after being selected to represent all the winners at the ceremony. The others will receive their awards in ceremonies organised by their federations.
“I congratulate Janine and all the winners of this year’s awards,” said Vice President Gracia. “Each of them is a wonderful role model for young women and we need to keep pushing for women to hold leading positions in athletics organisations.”
[VIDEO src='1277899' align='right']
The awards consist of a certificate, a European Athletics silver pin and a limited edition artwork print created by Geoffroy Jadoul of Belgium.
The biennial awards were created in 2009 as the centrepiece of European Athletics' strategy to promote the development of women leaders and gender equity in the sport.
In addition to the awards, European Athletics awarded three scholarships to young women identified by their federations as future leaders for a leadership development programme that will be delivered in 2016. The scholarship winners are Ieva Blusina of Latvia, Maryia Badzich of Belarus, and Vahida Kozic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.