European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen addressed the media in Cheboksary on Friday ahead of this weekend's European Athletics Team Championships in the Russian city.
Director General Christian Milz, Mikhail Ignatiev, President of the Chuvash Republic, Vadim Zelichenok, Acting President of the All-Russian Athletics Federation, and Mikhail Butov, CEO of the local organising committee, joined the President for the press conference.
The President opened the press conference by thanking Mr Ignatiev for hosting the top league of the championships.
'On behalf of European Athletics, I would like to say we are very happy to be in your city for the Cheboksary 2015 European Athletics Team Championships Super League,' said President Hansen. 'We are also very pleased that the nation of Russia has continued to show its commitment to hosting athletics events after the excellent 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow.
'I congratulate you on the Chuvash Republic having such a strong tradition in sport and athletics. You have hosted many prestigious sports events here. Cheboksary is known throughout the world of athletics as a 'home of race walking.' I am very impressed by the sporting infrastructure in the city. We have all seen with our own eyes the care and attention you pay to sport.
'I would like to express my congratulations and say thank you to the All-Russian Athletics Federation. Thank you also to the Chuvash Republic for the organisation of these championships and for making this such a special region committed to sports and athletics.'Thank you to the local organising committee, our hard-working staff, the volunteers, and everyone else involved in making these championships the best they can be. Everything is in place.There is fantastic promotion for the championships all over the city. There are posters and banners everywhere. Cheboksary is not just a city with a championships this weekend. It is a Championships City.'
Hansen spoke of the importance of the championships across Europe.
'The general public, television, media, institutions and governments of Europe recognise the importance of these championships.
'A European Athletics event creates champions, inspirational moments, smiling faces. New stars are created on the European stage.
'With the Team Championships there is another element as well – teams of athletes joining together to compete against other national teams. Not only in Cheboksary but in four leagues across the continent involving our Member Federations.
'We have in place high-level conditions for athletes, large crowds expected, strong television and media coverage and, hopefully, some excellent performances.
'Finally I would like to thank European Athletics’ long-term International Partners SPAR, Omega, Le Gruyère AOP and Eurovision for their support of these championships.'