The countdown to the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris has begun with the opening of the official championships website www.paris-2011.com.
The French Athletics Federation will host European Athletics' flagship indoor event at the magnificent Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy through 4-6 March 2011.
The POPB has been hailed as a top-class venue to organise major athletics competitions following its successful hosting of the 1985 World Indoor Games, 1994 European Athletics Indoor Championships and 1997 World Indoor Championships.
World indoor meetings also have been organised by the French Athletics Federation at the venue the past three years.
The 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships will continue the tradition of major international events at the POPB, with the added bonus of athletes competing on a brand new athletics track following recent renovations.
The Paris 2011 website www.paris-2011.com will provide all the latest news, photos, videos, timetables and athletes' stories from now through to the event.
A competition poster has also been unveiled. It reflects the beauty of the French capital, represented by the Eiffel Tower, and the passion of the 'Les Bleus' spectators set to pack out the POPB.
Tickets at attractive prices will be made available in February 2010 for athletics club members before being put on general sale in the summer of 2010.
Bernard Amsalem, President of the French Athletics Federation, said: 'The best European athletes will compete in Bercy. We are very proud to organise this big competition. Europe has now expanded and includes fifty countries. In some athletics disciplines, Europe is a leader at the international level. The European Athletics Indoor Championships will give French athletes the opportunity to produce great performances in front of their public and present a dynamic image of athletics. We can't wait for D-Day. We want to see great performances in this competition and to welcome all delegations and spectators in the best conditions.'