With only a few days to go for the first day of the Conference most of the preparations are at an advanced stage.

The involvement of the local Athletics association in the hosting of this prestigious conference started in October 2005 during the EAA Congress and Calendar Conference that was held in Reykjavik, Iceland. That was when the Malta Amateur Athletic Association had won the bid to host the Calendar Conference of the European Athletic Association (EAA) in Malta in October 2007.

This Conference, which each year is held in a different European city, brings together the presidents, secretaries, chief coaches and marketing managers of the Athletic Associations of Europe, attracts between 280 and 300 delegates depending on the venue, all coming from the 50 member European Federation members. To date we have around 330 delegates booked to attend the conference.

The Calendar meeting

Although the main scope of this Calendar conference is to confirm the program of the International athletic events such as, indoor and outdoor permit meetings, cross country championships, and other major events, for all categories, this conference brings together the committees of various working groups including the Athletes’ Commission, the Euro Meetings General Assembly, the Balkan Athletic Association meeting, the head coaches meeting and the Small States of Europe which is currently under the presidency of the Maltese Council.

Perhaps more important for European Association delegates would be the Presidents and General Secretaries Workshop where this year the delegates will be discussing the appointment of the various Commissions for the next four years, The European Athletics Member Support System and on TV Marketing of major athletic events.

The Workshop will also be discussing the holding of the European Athletic Championships in the Olympic Years as well as on the new proposal for the turning of the European Cup competition into a team competition.

Mr. Hansjorg Wirz, the President of the European Athletic Association, will be presiding over this conference, and he personally takes an active part in these conferences, while Sergey Bubka, the recently elected Vice President of the IAAF, will be representing Lamine Diack, the President of the IAAF. Mr. Pierre Weiss, the General Secretary of the IAAF will also be attending the Malta Conference.

For all those who follow athletics thoughout Europe, the highlight of this conference will be reached on Friday 12 October at 7.30pm when Mr. Hansjorg Wirz, the President of the European Athletic Association will declare the winners of the public poll for the selection of the European Athletes of the Year 2007.

The MAAA has 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 HSBC, among others.

5K Commemorative

Road Race

To be able to bring the importance of this conference among the active local athletes the Local Organising Committee is taking the opportunity to organize a 5K commemortive road race.

Knowing that the MAAA Council would be occupied with the organisation of the Conference, the Council Members of the Mellieha Athletic Club had offered to organise this event on behalf of the MAAA.

Branding athletics

The Council of the Malta Amateur Athletic Association is trying to move with the times and has realised the need to have a Brand Name. The brand name is Athletics Malta.

The Council has decided that it should also have a modern styled logo to go with the new brand name.