The third edition of the Dynamic New Athletics (DNA) U20 clubs competition, dubbed the Clash of the Clubs III, has been scheduled to take place in Pombal, Portugal, on 21-22 September this year.
The deadline for clubs to submit an expression of interest is Friday 1 March.
Unique opportunity
European Athletics is inviting Member Federations to send club teams to the event, which has quickly become a popular end-of-season tradition and a unique opportunity for young club athletes to compete on the international stage.
Located close to the Atlantic coast approximately midway between Portugal’s capital city Lisbon to the south and Porto to the north, host city Pombal’s late summer weather in can be expected to provide competitive, performance-friendly conditions.
It is also likely to be the final competition of the 2024 season for many of the participants.
Popular format
Introduced nearly six years ago, the innovative DNA format – featuring mixed-gender teams, a compact timetable, everything counts, head-to-head competition in the field events and a match result that is open to the very last event – has proven to be popular with young athletes throughout Europe.
Nearly 400 U20 category athletes representing club teams from 14 countries have competed in the first two editions of the Clash of the Clubs, in Castellon, Spain 2022 and Rome 2023. Post-event surveys revealed high levels of satisfaction with both the event experience and the DNA concept.
In addition, six national U20 teams took part in last year’s inaugural DNA U20 Indoors showcase match in Madrid and a number of countries have introduced DNA as a part of their national age group competition systems.
In Pombal, the programme for the preliminary matches on Day 1 and the finals on Day 2 will comprise a mixed 4x400 relay followed by 10 individual disciplines (five for men, five for women) for which points will be collected to determine the start order and staggered time gaps in the final relay, which will determine the overall match winner.
Digital experience
As with the first two editions of the Clash of the Clubs, the format will also strive to raise the profile of U20 club athletics, reach new audiences and help to create new stars for our sport.
All matches will be live-streamed and highly visible content will be published on social media to promote the event, the competing clubs and the top participating athletes.
In addition, all competitors will be encouraged to bring their smartphones to the event, including onto the infield during the competition itself, to share their excitement and bring their followers as close as possible to the experience.
Interested federations should contact José Luis de Carlos by Friday 1 March 2024.