European Athletics U23 Championships
12-06-2007

Newsletter

It is only a mere 40 days to go until the start of the European Athletics U23 Championships in Debrecen to be held between 12 -15 July. The preparations for the most significant athletics event of the year in Hungary are well under way, the organisers, hosting their seventh World or Continental championships are absolutely confident that this event will be even more successful than its predecessors.

Forty-six countries

Based on the preliminary entries, there are 46 countries intending to compete in this prestigious event with 2000 accredited individuals. The first teams are expected to arrive on 9 July. The teams will be accommodated in Hunép Campus Hotel, in Hunép Auguszta Hotel and Hunép Kossuth Hotel, where 758 rooms have been requested. The VIP-guests will stay in Hotel Lycium. The organisers are providing a shuttle service for accredited personnel stopping at all team hotels, at the competition venue, at the central restaurant and the warm-up stadium. The eight shuttle buses provided by Hajdu Volan Mass Transportation Company could be easily identified via a special marking and take rounds in every 20 minutes.

Opening ceremony with fireworks

On the eve of the first day of the Championships the organisers wish to invite everyone to take part in a spectacular opening ceremony to be held at the Kossuth Square, located in downtown Debrecen. The representatives of the countries competing in Debrecen will march in to the tunes of the Debrecen Youth Brass Band, then we will listen to the Hungarian National Anthem performed by renown opera singer, Mr. Zsolt Haja. There will be two speeches given, one by Mr. Gusztáv Rábold, the President of the Hungarian Athletics Association and one by the representative of the European Athletics Association. They will be followed onstage by the talented dancers of the Hajdú Dance Troup and the Debrecen Folk-dance Troup, presenting some authentic Hungarian dances to the tunes of two bands, Szeredás and Bürkös. The Championships will be officially opened by Mr. Lajos Kósa, the Mayor of Debrecen, then a local band called Desparado will take the stage and provide musical entertainment until the closing fireworks display.

A track completely reborn

The track of the Gyulai István Athletics Stadium will be completely overhauled for the Championships. The tartan surface will undergo a deep-cleaning method using steam-cleaning machinery, removing even the tiniest of dirt specks from the pores of the material. The athletes competing in the Championships will have the opportunity to prove themselves on a completely clean surface.

From volunteer to Chief Judge

There will be 473 walking judges and volunteers working during the Championships (322 walking judges and 151 volunteers). Some of them were with us during the 2001 IAAF/Westel World Youth Championships in Athletics, and six of those who used to be volunteers 6 years ago, will now serve as Chief Judges at the Championships. For these six newly-appointed judges the trial by fire will come at the national finals of the Student Olympics on 2 June and at the U23 and Youth National Championships to held at the end of June.

Medal-hungry National team is strong in numbers

The Hungarian Athletics Association has decided to capitalize on one advantage the host country is provided with, and is trying to have as many talented Hungarian athletes compete at the Championships as possible. This event could prove to be an excellent opportunity for those talented youngsters who outgrew their previous age-group to gain international experience. Mr. László Mérei, the Technical Director of the Hungarian Athletics Association is planning on entering at least forty Hungarian athletes for the competition. The Hungarian medal hopefuls are those who finished in the top three in Kaunas: Barnabás Bene on 5000 meters for men (Pécsi FK), Lajos Kürthy in men’s hammer throw (Mohácsi TE), Albert Minczér in men’s discus throw and weight put (VEDAC) and László Tóth in steeple-chase (Pécsi FK). “We are ready to enter fifty athletes should they reach the qualification levels in the preliminary races. Naturally, we will have a number of athletes from Debrecen, of whom I fancy the chances for a great result of Olivér Harsányi in high jump, but I have high hopes for javelin-thrower Xénia Nagy and both Levente Bodó and Zoltán Dávid (competing in relays and individual sprint events).”

Not without their support

Besides the official sponsor of the EAA, Canon, there are a number of national and international sponsors striving to provide quality services in order to have a successful event in Debrecen. The fist two sponsors of the continental championships are Visual Power Kft. providing visual equipment and Curver Hungary Kft., a very successful company on he field of plastics.
The official drink sponsor of the event is Hargita Gyöngye Rt. is based in Romania. The company from Csíkszereda is providing the event with a natural mineral water streaming from the volcanic layers of the Hargita-mountains. Their mineral water is an extremely healthy solution for the human body due to its balanced mineral composition. The company is supplying the participants with 79.720 bottles of their product, but it will also be made available for the spectators. Enjoy the Pearl of Hargita – love nature and love sports!

Pre-sale of tickets

The pre-sale of competition tickets is well underway. The European Athletics U23 Championships will be held in Debrecen’s Gyulai István Athletics Stadium, and spectators can purchase daily and four-day tickets online. For further details please visit the official site of the competition (www.u23debrecen2007.hu). The daily tickets start at 600 HUF, but children under the age of 10 can watch the competition for free, provided they are accompanied by an adult. The pre-sale of tickets is available online until 2 July 2007.