Aimed at helping Federations assess their strengths and weaknesses in a number of key areas, including governance and high performance, the system was initially proposed last year and is expected to be fully in place by 2018.

Gracia, previously the interim secretary general of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), was speaking at the Member Federation Governance Workshop here at the 2016 European Athletics Convention.

"Each of you have to realise what you look like," he said in addressing the Member Federation representatives present.

"If you don’t have a mirror, you never can see your face."

European Athletics currently provides administrative grants to Member Federations, however, Gracia concedes there are instances where these are not being used in the way they should be.

It is hoped that this will be eradicated by identifying specific shortcomings that need to be addressed.

"If they’re weak on youth, we have some programmes that they can take," Gracia told insidethegames. 

"We can help them by giving money, by giving education, by doing activities or whatever is needed.

"To do that, we first have to realise how they are doing, so the idea was to do this assessment."

The Member Federation Governance Workshop included three main sessions, the first of which was entitled "Governance in Sport Organisations - an Overview" and delivered by Court of Arbitration for Sport member Alex McLin.

McLin, a former chief executive of the International Equestrian Federation and executive director of the Swiss Arbitration Association, looked at basic indicators for better governance in international sport.

He was also a leading member of the Working Group on Governance Structure Reform set up by IAAF President Sebastian Coe and which has recommended a number of changes to help make the world governing body more transparent and accountable. 

His presentation was followed by a Member Federation Case Study, delivered by Swedish Athletics Association (SFIF) Board member Curt Högberg.

Högberg talked extensively about the challenges facing the SFIF’s Congress and Council and the ways in which the governing body strives to ensure the preservation of integrity.

Additionally, an introduction and demonstration was given on the Support the Implementation of Good Governance in Sport (SIGGS) Project, which aims to promote and support good governance in sport by providing practical guidance to National Olympic Committees and National Sport Federations on how to implement relevant principles. 

The presentation was delivered by Matthias Van Baelen, deputy director of the SIGGS Project.

European Athletics’ 2016 Convention was officially opened today by President Svein Arne Hansen and is due to continue tomorrow, with the main focus of attention turning to the first session of the Member Federations Leaders Forum.

This will be preceded by a calendar conference and networking, and a European Union Funding Opportunity Workshop.

To follow all today's ongoings at the Convention visit our Live Blog here.