Dysfunction in the Eurovets: Kaschke clueless on WMA bidders

Booklet of EMA general assembly 2017. (PDF)

Like World Masters Athletics, the Eurovets hold general assemblies. I’ve obtained the booklet for one such gathering at the March 2016 indoor championships in Ancona, Italy. Notable on Page 10 of the EMA booklet are these “final comments” on the 2015 Lyon world meet. EMA President Kurt Kaschke of Germany writes: “Lyon had a great atmosphere but caused also many problems: the transportation of athletes through the city, the results coming out very late and sometimes wrong, food and beverage offer was poor, no really meeting tent for socialising athletes … For me as EMA President it was sad to see the lack of communication between WMA, EMA and National Federation concerning the bidding for the next championships. Two European candidates for 2018 — Venice (ITA) and Malaga (ESP) two ambitious organizers and one loser. The EMA Council was not informed about the competition between two bidders. That should never happen again!”

Kurt continues:

Finishing my mandate as President of EMA in 2017 – the next Stadia Championships in Arhus (DEN) – the next candidates should be aware of the situation of athletics in the World.

After the scandal in IAAF, athletics reputation has lowered. Athletics is still attractive in road races, city marathons and other out of stadium competitions, but stadia is losing the younger generations – and we can’t stop it.

The cities have to be careful with the investment in athletics facilities and they are more interested in investing money in ”sports for all” than in high standard competition – except footbal!

It would be a great honour and success for the ”old” EMA Council to see the European Masters Athletics Association in good hands after the GA in Aarhus 2017. Thank you for your support and for your critics as well.

Kurt, BTW, is reportedly not stepping down as EMA president, as suggested here.