Mr Christian Milz, director general of European Athletics Association (EAA) was in Malta for a two-day visit during which he held talks with the Malta Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) and also toured the athletics facilities and the venues for the upcoming European Athletic Association Calendar Conference which will be held in Malta between the 11th and 14th October this year.

During a press conference held at the MAAA’s Offices at Marsa yesterday Mr Milz, fresh from the latest congress of member associations in Cannes, spoke about the upcoming calendar conference and had very favourable comments about its organisation "I have no doubt that the conference will be organized up to a high standard." It was during the EAA Congress & Calendar Conference held in Reykjavik, Iceland, in October 2005 that Malta Amateur Athletic Association had won the bid to host this Calendar Conference.

Mr Anthony Chircop, President of MAAA, spoke in depth about the up-coming conference.

He said that each year it is held in a different European City, and brings together the presidents, secretaries, chief coaches and Marketing Managers of the Athletic Associations of Europe.

He added that it attracts between 280 and 300 delegates, all coming from the 50-member European Federation. He clearly recalled the enthusiasm, among the delegates present in the hall, when the news that Malta had won the bid was announced. Malta had polled 26 votes, Ukraine 12 and Poland 2.

The main scope of this Calendar Conference is to confirm the programme of the European international athletic events such as the European Indoor Championships,the European Throwing Challenge, the European Cup and the European (outdoor) Championships.

The Calendar Conference also serves to give the European Athletic Association the opportunity for different working groups.The delegates who will be attending the Conference are also the people who have the final say as to where they send their athletes for specialist training camps and warm-weather training camps to avoid the harsh winter climate of the northern countries. It is therefore up to Malta to take the opportunity to market our track facilities.

There is also a social aspect to the Conference and this is where the local Association will find the opportunity of promoting the historical and cultural heritage of our country.

Mr. Hansjorg Wirz, the President of the European Athletic Association, will be presiding on this conference, and he personally takes an active part in these conferences, while Mr. Lamine Diack, the President of the IAAF and Mr. Pierre Weiss have already confirmed their presence.

Aware of the high standard of organization that the EAA expects from the local organizing committee, the local Association started working on the various aspects of this conference from the time that it had won the bid.

The preparations have reached an advance stage. MAAA found the co-operation of various bodies including Air Malta, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Good Causes Fund, the Mayor and Local Council of St Paul’s Bay and the HSBC, among others, for which the MAAA is grateful.