17th July 2013 01:51
Preisdent Wirz announced that more than 1,000 juniors would compete over four days in Rieti from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 July, the highest number ever since the continent's bi-annual under-20s competition was first held in 1964. Following record numbers at the European Athletics Under 23 Championships in Tampere last week, President Wirz said that 'this shows our sport is strong at attracting and keeping young athletes'.
'We have an important task in promoting our sport to the future generation,' said President Wirz. 'Not all our athletes will be future Olympic champions, but there will be lots of athletes here who will develop with us through the sport because of these championships.
'Twenty is an important age for young people because they easily get a new orientation. If we're not providing the best for youngsters they'll go to other sports. We are part of society and we have to adapt to that.'
President Wirz added that facilities such as those at the newly refurbished Stadio Raul Guidobaldi – home of the annual IAAF RietiMeeting and site of eight world records over the years – are ideal for such top level competition for this age group. Changes to the stadium include a brand new MONDO track.
'We are happy we can use these fantastic facilities in Rieti which are excellent for such a competition,' he said. 'It's important that young athletes have these excellent facilities to compete on.
'I am sure we will have some interesting, touching and attractive days of athletics here with our future generation.'
The President's sentiments were echoed by Alfio Giomi, President of the Italian Athletics Federation, FIDAL, who described Rieti as 'a city of athletics'.
'It's not just the meetings we hold here but the fact that a lot of our junior champions are based here and train at this same stadium,' he said.
'We are not only raising athletes but developing young men and women thanks to the values of athletics.'
That development programme includes the European Athletics Anti-Doping Education Campaign 'I Run Clean', 'I Throw Clean', 'I Jump Clean'.
'These championships are about the preparation of athletes for the future,' explained President Wirz. 'They learn to compete at a championship, which is not the same as at meeting, but we also have a chance to educate them about doping and how to take care of themselves.'
European Athletics Vice President Jean Gracia pointed out that this is the second European junior championships to be held in Italy.
The first, in Grossetto 2001, was 'a big success', he said, not only because future Olympic champions such as Mo Farah, Yelena Isinbayeva and Carolina Klüft won gold medals, but because it also played a vital role in developing the careers of other future stars, such as Andreas Thorkildsen, Anna Chicherova, Blanka Vlasic and Betty Heidler, who did not make it to the top of the podium.
'It's so important to have these championships every two years,' he said. 'It's not just about who wins, but it gives them all a chance to measure themselves and learn how important it is to train to compete at events like this.'
Rieti 2013 President Alessandro Rinaldi explained that the championships have taken four years of preparation since the city was announced as hosts in May 2009. He thanked the city's authorities for working 'in synergy' with the organisers in upgrading the stadium and city facilities, as well as the Italian broadcasters, RAI, for their commitment to show all four days of competition.
'I hope the championships help to bring popularity to Rieti because it is a city which deserves to be known,' he said.