Last Thursday, EMA had the first virtual meeting with the Portuguese Athletics Federation (FPA) and the Portuguese Veterans Association (ANAV) about its further cooperation and the project of EMACS 2021 in VRSA.
The first point was to establish that the procedure of Championship Bidding in Portugal, should include FPA and ANAV from the beginning, in every International Masters Athletics event. EMA’s policy is to contact Federations, Cities and other interested parties to send a “Letter of Interest” first, but when a bidding is in process, FPA and ANAV should be contacted.
Regarding the proposal to host EMACS 2021 in VRSA, ANAV is available to collaborate in the organization, and be part of the LOC, working before and during the event to make this a great Championship. However, ANAV made a clear statement that the organisation of Veterans’ Athletics in Portugal could not have any financial responsibilities in any contract for EMACs, because it does not have any budget for an international championship of this size.
This kind of event has to be sustainable from the beginning onwards, and with only a few months of preparation of this international championship, the Portuguese National Athletics Bodies (FPA and ANAV) do not have the financial resources for this event, which leaves EMA, and the City of VRSA alone with the financial risk of this Championship.
Considering the actual status of Portugal, Europe, and the World, which are left to deal with the social-economics consequences of the covid-19 pandemic, every city is putting all its financial means available to health and security of its citizen and its visitors, being this the priority.
Putting all these facts together it will be very difficult for the city of VRSA to make this event sustainable at this moment.
Jorge Vieira – President of FPA
Luis Jesus – President of ANAV
Kurt Kaschke – President of EMA