Dobromir Karamarinov, Interim President of European Athletics, has hailed the return to action represented by his organisation’s 36th Indoor Championships, speaking a few hours before competition got underway in the Polish city of Torun.
At the pre-event press conference in the Torun Arena that was also accessible virtually, Karamarinov said: “These championships will be without spectators.
“But what is most important is we, as European Athletics, we come back on the track. We are here again. Our last competition was December 2019, the European Cross Country Championships. That was a really big break. n these challenging, unpredictable times our goal was only one – to get back to the Championships again.And we succeed here in Torun.Today we will start again.”
Karamarinov said that the Indoor Championships, which run until Sunday (March 7) and will involve nine athletes who currently top the 2021 world lists, will enjoy around 400 hours of TV coverage through the European Broadcasting Union.
They are the first major multi-event championships to have taken place since pandemic lockdowns began – the World Athletics Indoor Championships, postponed from last March and due to take place in the Chinese city of Nanjing this month – have been further postponed until March 2023.
Referencing the lack of spectators, Karamarinov added: “We deserve the best atmosphere for our athletes, but we start with this because there is no doubt that safety is the number one priority.
“We have to be brave, but also we have to be careful. Your championships will be remembered for a long time because we have delivered for a first time European Championships in this situation. It is a good example from European Athletics. We have to deliver our championships and we also have to show to the others the best example of how to do it. The Polish Athletics Federation have a great experience in organising top-quality athletics competitions, and I am fully confident they will rise to the occasion once again.”
Henryk Olszewski, the Polish Athletic Federation President, commented: “The Polish Athletic Federation has been working very hard with all its partners in preparation for these championships, which I am sure will be a huge success.
“Our thanks go to the city of Torun for cooperating with us in this immense effort to prepare the venue and championships.”
He also highlighted that the 2021 European Athletics Team Championships Super League is also scheduled to take place in Poland, with action due to take place in Chorzow on May 29 and 30.
Michal Zaleski, Mayor of Torun, thanked the Polish government for making the staging of the event possible.
“To make these championships we have cooperated with the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport, with the Polish Athletic Federation, with the regional authorities and of course with the city of Torun.
“These championships offer us a great opportunity to promote our city as a city of sport where there are numerous venues to organise great sporting events.”
