Big changes in European Athletics Elections – Christian Milz, Director General of European Athletics said „European society has changed dramatically over the past number of years and athletics must adapt to these changes in order to maintain its position as the number one Olympic sport.“

The winds of change were blowing strong at the 20th European Athletics Congress in Cannes on 14 April 2007. Delegates from the 50 Member Federations elected ten new members, including two new vice presidents, to the 17 strong council and then overwhelmingly supported plans put forward by President Hansjorg Wirz, to overhaul the sports competition programme in the future.

In the elections Spain’s Jose Luis de Carlos and Norwegian Sven Arne Hansen were elected to the position of vice president, while Portugal’s Jorge Salcedo, topped the poll in the Council elections.

Former Olympic Triple Jump champion Jonathon Edwards, of Britain and former European 1,500m champion, Franco Arese, from Italy, were both elected to their first terms on the Council.

The other new members of the council are Bulgarian Dobromir Karamarinov, Antti Pihlakoski, Finland, Toralf Nilsson, Sweden, Frank Hensel, Germany, Salih Munir Yaras, Turkey, Vadim Zelichenok, Russia, and Sylvia Barlag, from the Netherlands.

Treasurer Karel Pilny, from Czech Republic retained his seat unopposed while Salcedo, Ludmila Olijara from Latvia, Slovenian Janez Alancic and Philippe Lamblin, from the host nation, all retained their seats for the next four years.

Christian Milz, Director General of European Athletics (above) said „European society has changed dramatically over the past number of years and athletics must adapt to these changes in order to maintain its position as the number one Olympic sport.“

„We have said good bye to a number of faithful servants of European Athletics but I am confident that the right mix of experience and youth, which forms the new council, will ensure a successful future for the sport in Europe“

In the competition committee Italian, Anna Ricardi, Czech Republics Libor Varhanik, Serbian, Ivica Matijevic and Jean-Pierre Schoebel from Monaco took the four available seats while former Olympic Decathlon champion Erki Nool, Estonia, Jean Gracia from France, Nick Davis from Ireland and Ihor Hotsul from Ukraine took the seats on the Development Committee.

RESULTS OF ELECTIONS
President
WIRZ Hansjörg Switzerland

Vice-President
DE CARLOS José Luis, Spain
HANSEN Svein Arne, Norway

source:
www. European Athletics