This year will be another highlight for all of us in Masters Athletics.
World Masters Athletics Championship Indoor is going to be the highlight for Masters Sports in Daegu (Korea) in March. For the first time in history Korea focuses on Masters Athletics and invites athletes from all parts of the world.
European Masters Athletics will start with the Masters Mountain Running Championship on April 30th in Spain. We expect up to 500 participants in the Ajuntament de Montcada i Reixac.
The highlight in European Masters Athletics will for sure be the Stadia Championship 2017 in Aarhus (Danmark). We are going to be part of great stadia events, but also enjoy the 1/2 Marathon which will be open for entries of all age categories.
The General Assembly will be held on August 1st. There will be the elections for all EMA offices. We would like to invite people with skills and passion for Masters Athletics to also apply for President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Technical Director, and Secretary.
Just after our championships in Aarhus IAAF will invite the World of Athletics to London.
Governance of Sport is in focus of IAAF. Lord Sebastian Coe put this subject on his agenda for his elected term to change most of the “old habits” in IAAF. EAA will follow his example.
At he end of September Wroclaw (Poland) will host the European Masters Marathon Championship. The entries are open now. The city marathon is open to everybody but to participate for EMMC athletes have a seperate part to enter. The federations will check the entries to give “green light” to those who want to participate.
At the beginning of the new year I like to say “Thank you!” to EMA Council Members and the team of our organisation.
We all try to do our best to serve Masters Athletics and to develop our organisation for the future generations.
“Thank you!” as well for the cooperation between EA and EMA under the leadership of Svein Arne Hansen. It is a pleasure to exchange ideas and visions together with Alfio Giomi and Jean Gracia – who are our partners in the planning of the roadmap of EA and EMA.
There are people in the background supporting us with their knowledge and passion. One of these people is Pierre Weiss.
But what are officers in organisations without the athletes – they are the ones we care about.
At last “Thank you!” to all the volunteers, judges, referees, and officials who made athletics facinating.
Have a great new start – take your time for the best parts in your life – and let us enjoy together our beloved sport.
Kurt Kaschke
EMA President