European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov, re-elected at the 2023 European Athletics Congress in Belgrade, wasted little time in outlining his immediate plans on Saturday (22).
“I believe European Athletics is the strongest continental athletics organisation in the world and so I am very proud to have been elected as its President,” said Karamarinov.
“I have three priorities: competitions, digitalisation and innovation, and the community.
“But my first step will always be to look to our Member Federations. For me, the development and prosperity of our Member Federations will always be the top priority.
“This starts tomorrow with the first meeting of the new European Athletics Council, and I have immediately started to think about the Member Federations. I will look at how to continue to improve the communication and development with our Member Federations via competitions, digitalisation and innovation, and the community.”
Karamarinov reflected at the traditional post-Congress press conference on how he had been instrumental in the introduction of the Focus Federation and Onboarding programmes (the latter for new Member Federation senior officials) to enhance the relationship between European Athletics and its constituents.
His re-election was hailed by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe and as an Area Association president, Dobromir Karamarinov has an automatic place on the World Athletics Council.
“Anyone that knows me well knows that I like certainty and continuity. I like certainty in the flow of the day at World Athletics, I like certainty in all our governance structures and I like certainty and continuity in the driving forces of all out continental associations so thank you [to Dobromir Karamarinov and European Athletics] for providing that certainty for the next four years. Our sport will prosper with your commitment and your passion.
“We [at World Athletics] have many tough decisions to make in terms of product and competition and I know that with you, Dobromir, on the World Athletics Council that those decisions will be made and for all the right reasons.”
Coe eulogised the close relationship between European Athletics and the global governing body of the sport in simple terms.
“I can answer the question about the close relationship between our two organisations by congratulating my colleague in World Athletics, and the re-elected President of European Athletics, a warm handshake,” added Coe, with a gesture that had photographers’ light bulbs flashing in the Serbian capital.