The anti-doping education programme will be one of the central elements of the European Athletics Youth Championships in Tbilisi.
All the athletes will have the chance to take part in a series of innovative anti-doping activities. The European Athletics Anti-Doping Education Programme has been organised on the sidelines of several events in the past including the Tampere 2013 European Athletics U23 Championships, Rieti 2013 European Athletics Junior Championships, Baku 2014 European Youth Olympic Trials, the Tallinn 2015 European Athletics U23 Championships and Eskilstuna 2015 European Athletics Junior Championships.
This year the successful formula is being repeated in Tbilisi,Georgia led by two members of the European Athletics Young Leaders Community: Xicu Colomar and Katrin Heyers.
Xicu Colomar, from Spain said: “I am honored to be, once again, part of this initiative and I have no doubts it will be a complete success. I am looking forward to working closely with the volunteers who will help us deliver the activities.
“It's important for young athletes of the harms of doping and to promote the benefits of clean sport.”
1st day of @EuroAthletics #youth champs in #Tbilisi2016 #antidoping #iwalkclean #irunclean #ijumpclean #ithrowclean pic.twitter.com/LuyhBi2New
— EA Young Leaders (@EAYoungLeaders) July 14, 2016
His colleague, another Young Leader Katrin Heyers from Germany is also looking forward to the programme saying:
“I am as well excited to deliver the programme during the competition together with Marc Sintes (European Athletics staff responsible for delivering the anti-doping progamme), and the volunteers. Our goal will be to help the athletes through the process of developing their own point of view and finding their personal reasons for a doping-free life. Every athlete wearing our t-shirt will make a statement and will help us reach our goal of a doping-free culture in future athletics.”
Athletes will be encouraged to take part in a series of activities aimed at helping raise their awareness and enhance their knowledge of anti-doping issues.
Participating athletes will be asked to take part in an informative quiz designed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
All participants will receive a branded t-shirt with the slogans of the programme – I Run Clean, I Jump Clean, I Throw Clean, I Walk Clean, if they score more than stipulated level of marks in the quiz.
Overall the intention is that the message of anti-doping comes over loud and clear through the events.