European Athletics has approved in principal a plan for a ranking system to be used during qualification for future editions of its biennial Championships ©European Athletics

European Athletics has approved in principal a plan for a ranking system to be used during qualification for future editions of its biennial Championships.

The decision was made at the 147th meeting of the continental governing body’s Council in Lausanne. 

The system will link existing European one-day meetings to the Championships, with an aim of developing a strong promotional narrative for the organisation’s flagship event.

It will be based on each athlete’s results in head-to-head competition rather than the traditional time or distance standards.

"This is a revolutionary move for promoting our sport," said European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen.

"Our aim is to show that every time athletes compete it has a clear meaning and is another step on the road to our Championships."

In addition to qualification, the system will give a weekly-updated ranking in each discipline, providing a stream of stories that both European Athletics and the athletes themselves can communicate through traditional news and social media channels.

According to Hansen, the system will require athletes to compete more often than they currently do, increasing the spotlight on the sport and their exposure to additional doping controls.

"The ultimate aim is to create more and more credible stars in our sport," said Hansen.

This year's European Athletics Championships took place in Amsterdam ©Getty Images
This year's European Athletics Championships took place in Amsterdam ©Getty Images

A project team is currently testing the system and making refinements before a decision is taken on the launch date, currently projected to be in time for the 2020 European Athletics Championships.

"I am pushing the team to see if we can even be ready in time for the 2018 Championships in Berlin," said Hansen.

The Council meeting marked the conclusion of a busy week for European Athletics that included the inauguration of its new headquarters building in Lausanne.

Decisions taken at the Council included the awarding of the 2018 European Cross-Country Championships to the Dutch city of Tilburg. 

The meeting also saw support given to the organisation of the Championships of Small States of Europe in 2018, and the approval of the 2017 European Athletics Education Programme, including an inaugural Running Business Conference in German city Frankfurt next October.