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A Short summary of EVAA history and EVAA activites

Due to Cesare Beccalli's (Italy) and Roland Jerneryd's (Sweden) initiative , in September of the year 1978 was founded the EUROPEAN VETERANS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION in Viareggio - Italy.
Already former to this date other associations were founded in different european countries, as the National Bodies recognized the necessity and wish in offering competitions to their veteran athletes.

One of the members of foundation was Jacques Serruys-Belgium, now in days the President of EVAA ( European Veterans Athletic Association. Viareggio was not only the place of foundation, it was also the site in 1978 , where the first European Championships took place. 1.193 athletes from Europe came together to celebrate this event.

Since this date, the Out-Door Championships developed in an impressive way, and reached to the maximum of 4.291 participants in the EVAA Championships in Cesenatico- Italy in 1998.

Our 12th EVAA Championships took place in the City of Jyväskylä - Finland. The Championships take always place in a 2 year rhythm ( even-numbered years).

After more or less 10 years later, the first EVAA Road Championships ( Non-Stadia) were offered to european veteran athletes. For Jacques Serruys , as foundation member, it was a personal

object to organise those first EVAA Championships in Brugge-Belgium in June 1989. More than 1000 runners and walkers participated. In Qormi-Malta, right now, the 7th EVAA Championships on road will take place, giving proof of a satisfactory development.

In the year 1997 , thanks to the offer of Birmingham - Great Britain, EVAA was able to offer another , and looked for event, the Indoor Championships. It was started with also international invitation , and a part from Europe, athletes from America and Africa were competing together.

In 1999, the for sport also very well known city of Malmo, was the hosting country for the 2nd EVAA Indoor-Championships , but on this occasion only for european athletes. With great success and engagement , the 3rd Championships were held in the City of Bordeaux-France, (March 2001) where more than 1.000 athletes were competing on high level during 4 days, with the introduction of the combined events.

Now in days, EVAA can offer their Affiliates 3 different Championships :

Those Championships are held as follows:

Stadia - every even-numbered year

Non-Stadia - every odd-numbered year

Indoor - every odd-numbered year

The interest of european athletes to compete within those championships, is increasing constantly. An outstanding example is for instance Germany, a country which has to offer in the meanwhile 3 different dates of organising their veteran championships, and to be pointed out, with very high levelled minimums of participation.

EVAA is pleased to see that we are in the lucky situation to get bidders for for all our championships, and a financial guarantee, due to entries, is given, too.

The EVAA Council meets twice per year, together with WAVA President Torsten Carlius (SWE) as Cooperator, and since 1.998, Georgios Constantopoulos (GRE) is our link person from the EAA.

Within those Council Meetings, main items are of course, the organisation of the Championships, the working out of the different offers , team work with the Local Organisers , inspections of the sites, problems of countries which become an Affiliate, and all type of consujlting matters which might rise up in certain countries.

During our General Assembly, which takes place on occasion of the Stadia Championships, proposals to Constitution or By-Laws are firm points on the Agenda, as well as trying to improve more and more in benefit of our athletes. There is no doubt that it is the wish of EVAA to keep a good balance and understanding among all our Affiliates. We might say, that Europe reflects all overseen, a high level, due to this effort done by us all.

In the meanwhile, an Internet-Web-Site was created (www.evaa.nu) where Affiliates as well as athletes can see the latest news from EVAA.

Marina Hoernecke -Gil
Secretary of EVAA