21st June 2013 00:52
The 4th European Athletics Team Championships this weekend, with more than 2,200 competitors from 46 countries, will celebrate how unique the competition is.
Whether it is the top division in Gateshead, the 1st League in Dublin, the 2nd League in Kaunas or the 3rd League in Banksa Bystrica, it will be about points for the team rather than individual success in the only major event in the sport where this happens.
It is why the event remains so high on the calendar of importance for so many with, in Gateshead alone, six world champions and five Olympic champions chasing glory for their country.
Whether it is the top division in Gateshead, the 1st League in Dublin, the 2nd League in Kaunas or the 3rd League in Banksa Bystrica, it will be about points for the team rather than individual success in the only major event in the sport where this happens.
It is why the event remains so high on the calendar of importance for so many with, in Gateshead alone, six world champions and five Olympic champions chasing glory for their country.
As, fittingly, the sun broke out on Friday morning in the North east of England, the anticipation of these Championships was top of the agenda as leading figures from European Athletics, British Athletics, Gateshead council and the athletes themselves spoke of how much they are looking forward to the next two days.
One word summed it. 'Special,' said Germany's javelin star Christina Obergfoll who will be aiming to maintain her 100 per cent record in the event.
Jose Luis de Carlos, vice-president of European Athletics, said: 'We are happy and proud to be here for the third time in Gateshead. We were here in 1989 and 2000 for the European Cup and now we are here with the new format.
'European Athletics is proud to organise this competition which is unique in all of athletics. There is no other place where men and women compete together to score points for their country.
'The teams bring the best athletes they have and we are proud that this competition has such a high level.'
Britain's men won the European Cup for the first time in 1989 at this venue, the International Stadium, and they repeated their glory 11 years later.
Mick Henry, the leader of Gateshead Council, said: 'It is exciting to be hosting the first major athletics event in Britain since last summer's Olympics.
'It is a real honour to bring athletes from 12 nations to the north east of England. It is world class athletics like last year - but not just in our country, now it is in our own town. We are overjoyed to have the event again.'
After the success of London 2012, Niels de Vos, the chief executive of British Athletics, stressed how delighted the national federation was to be able to be the hosts once more.
He said: 'When we bid for this event in 2010, we were particularly keen to win it this year because it would be the first time the British people would have a chance to see the British team post-Olympic Games.
One word summed it. 'Special,' said Germany's javelin star Christina Obergfoll who will be aiming to maintain her 100 per cent record in the event.
Jose Luis de Carlos, vice-president of European Athletics, said: 'We are happy and proud to be here for the third time in Gateshead. We were here in 1989 and 2000 for the European Cup and now we are here with the new format.
'European Athletics is proud to organise this competition which is unique in all of athletics. There is no other place where men and women compete together to score points for their country.
'The teams bring the best athletes they have and we are proud that this competition has such a high level.'
Britain's men won the European Cup for the first time in 1989 at this venue, the International Stadium, and they repeated their glory 11 years later.
Mick Henry, the leader of Gateshead Council, said: 'It is exciting to be hosting the first major athletics event in Britain since last summer's Olympics.
'It is a real honour to bring athletes from 12 nations to the north east of England. It is world class athletics like last year - but not just in our country, now it is in our own town. We are overjoyed to have the event again.'
After the success of London 2012, Niels de Vos, the chief executive of British Athletics, stressed how delighted the national federation was to be able to be the hosts once more.
He said: 'When we bid for this event in 2010, we were particularly keen to win it this year because it would be the first time the British people would have a chance to see the British team post-Olympic Games.
'Team athletics is a really important concept for bringing a new audience to the sport, rallying behind the flag. You see that at major events like the Olympics.
'It is important to us, and it is why the Great Britain team has always focussed hard on this event.'
Christian Milz, the director general of European Athletics, revealed some of the statistics which show popular these European Athletics Team Championships are.
He said: 'In Gateshead this weekend, there are 100 hours of television coverage across the continent. Out of those 100 hours, 90 hours are said to be live.
'Fifteen countries are broadcasting the event all over Europe and in addition, we have Eurosport which cover 59 territories all over Europe and we have Eurosport Asia which is set to broadcast three to four hours a day over 15 countries in Asia.
'It is about 50 per cent more than two years ago in Stockholm.'
The five Olympic champions from London competing in Gateshead are Britons Mo Farah (5000m, 10,000m) and Greg Rutherford (long jump), France's Renaud Lavillenie (pole vault), Germany's Robert Harting (discus) and Poland's Tomasz Majewski (shot put).
Farah (5,000m) and Harting are also world champions along with Britain's Dai Greene (400m hurdles), Germany's David Storl (shot put), Ukraine's Olha Saladuha (triple jump) and Russia's Mariya Abakumova (javelin).
A new concept from the organisers is to integrate a road race with the Championships. The Bupa Great North 10km Gateshead takes place on Sunday morning with thousands of runners, giving them the chance to finish in the stadium, the venue where the European Athletics Team Championships takes place later in the day.'It is important to us, and it is why the Great Britain team has always focussed hard on this event.'
Christian Milz, the director general of European Athletics, revealed some of the statistics which show popular these European Athletics Team Championships are.
He said: 'In Gateshead this weekend, there are 100 hours of television coverage across the continent. Out of those 100 hours, 90 hours are said to be live.
'Fifteen countries are broadcasting the event all over Europe and in addition, we have Eurosport which cover 59 territories all over Europe and we have Eurosport Asia which is set to broadcast three to four hours a day over 15 countries in Asia.
'It is about 50 per cent more than two years ago in Stockholm.'
The five Olympic champions from London competing in Gateshead are Britons Mo Farah (5000m, 10,000m) and Greg Rutherford (long jump), France's Renaud Lavillenie (pole vault), Germany's Robert Harting (discus) and Poland's Tomasz Majewski (shot put).
Farah (5,000m) and Harting are also world champions along with Britain's Dai Greene (400m hurdles), Germany's David Storl (shot put), Ukraine's Olha Saladuha (triple jump) and Russia's Mariya Abakumova (javelin).