President Wirz: European Athletics must further develop political alliances
15 December 2011. Source: EAA. (IKKOSPORTS) - President Hansjörg Wirz has outlined his plans for European Athletics to strengthen its relationships with political organisations in order to support the development of athletics on the continent.
Writing in the winter edition of the organisation's newsletter Inside Track, President Wirz also called for the 50 Member Federations of European Athletics to be proactive in working closely with their respective governments and sports bodies.
"Developing further our relationships with organisations such as the European Union, and consolidating those links, is going to be an important task in the coming years, both for myself and the current Council members as well as the future leadership of European Athletics when I retire as President in 2015," writes President Wirz.
"Increasingly, athletics at national level appears to be facing difficulties in securing political willingness and financial backing to support athletics' infrastructure so Member Federations also have to be proactive in working closely with their governments and sports bodies; firstly in establishing facilities and then planning national and international events that will maintain the infrastructure and maintain our sport's profile within their own countries.
"It should be obvious to all Member Federations that in the current political and economic climate they have to have good relations with all political institutions. This is one of the ways our sport can prosper."
President Wirz is addressing athletics support and development this week during his visits to the German Athletics Federation (DLV) and the Greek Athletics Federation (SEGAS).
To read President Wirz's full editorial in Inside Track, download the latest edition of Inside Track here: http://bit.ly/rVkl6K.
The December edition of Inside Track also features a review of the Arona 2011 European Athletics Awards Night and look back on the important Council decisions following its meeting in Helsinki in November, when the hosting of the European Athletics Championships was awarded to Amsterdam.