Malta will be hosting one of the most prestigious conferences on the European Athletic Association (EAA) roster next October when over 300 delegates from the 50 member associations will convene for the EAA Calendar Conference at the Dolmen Hotel in St Paul's Bay.
Christian Milz, the EAA director general, was in Malta over the past few days to have a closer look at the Malta Amateur Athletics Association's preparations for the event, to be held between October 11 and 14.
"I am really impressed with all the work president Anthony Chircop and his colleagues at the MAAA have carried out so far," Milz said.
"The venue of the conference is excellent, the required facilities are very good and I have no doubt that this year's Calendar Conference will be a great success."
The calendar conference, held annually in a different European city, brings together the presidents, secretaries, coaches and marketing managers of the EAA member associations.
The meeting in Malta will be chaired by EAA president, Hansjorg Wirz, and will also see the participation of IAAF president Lamine Diack who has already confirmed his attendance. Among the delegates present will be former triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards who has just been elected on the EAA council.
The main objective of the meeting is to confirm the EAA programme of international athletic events such as the Euro Indoor Championships, the Euro Throwing Challenge, the Euro Cup and the Euro Outdoor Championships.
MAAA president Chircop said that the conference gives Malta an excellent opportunity to market itself as a good training destination for athletes coming from countries with cold winters.
"In October we will be hosting people who have the final say as to where they send their athletes for winter training camps," he said. "It is therefore up to us to grab the opportunity and promote our track facilities."
Meanwhile, at the EAA Congress in Cannes earlier this month, a number of key decisions were made. Milz revealed that the congress has agreed that, from 2012, the European Championships will be held every two years instead of every four.
The EAA director also announced that the format of the European Teams Cup will be revamped. Twelve nations will contest the top-division event with each team, composed of men and women athletes, vying for one title.
Milz said that during the Teams Championship, the EAA will introduce the idea of head-to-head competition in the long jump and triple jump. These changes will come into effect in the 2009 European Teams Championship.