The controversial proposal to hold the event bi-annually instead of once every four years as it currently is emerged as the 20th European Athletics Congress gave its overwhelming support for president Hansjörg Wirz's proposal, to overhaul the competition structure, in the Royal Casino Hotel in Cannes Cannes today.

 

The council was given a strong mandate to continue the development and expansion of the competition structure, which, subject to approval from the various stakeholders, will mean an outdoor European Athletics Championships, taking place on even years, starting in 2012.

 

The added Championship would take place at the same time as the United States Olympic trials, and would contain all standard stadium events, excluding the 10,000 metres, race walking and combined events.

 

The Championships would take place over five days and among the added innovations would be that qualification could be achieved by the normal qualification process, but, also, by performances and positions achieved in specific meetings.

 

The specific details will be finalised and publicised in the future, after negotiations conclude with the European Broadcasting Union, the biggest financial partner of European Athletics, along with further consultation with the relevant stakeholders about the format, and satisfactory financial analysis on the proposed developments.

 

Speaking about the rational behind the proposal Wirz said: "In the six months from August 2006 to March 2007 we organised both the European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg and the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

 

"However, from March 2007 until July 2010 we will only organise the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Turin in March 2009 and this is not an ideal situation from all points of view."

 

The next European Championships is due to be staged in 2010 in Barcelona, the host of the 1992 Olympics where the British winners included Linford Christie and Sally Gunnell.