The document summarizes European Athletics' efforts to promote health and well-being through athletic activities. It discusses both competitive and non-competitive concepts that have been implemented or could be implemented to engage people across Europe. These include youth relays, a mass participation race labeling system, integrating public races into championships, and non-competitive programs like modified athletics for kids and teens, start to run programs, health and fitness fairs, and marked running routes. The goal is to establish athletics as the "natural authority" in health and fitness across Europe.

1. European Athletics One-Day Meeting Organiser Forum
Member Federation Leaders’ Forum
Health and Well-Being
13 October 2012, St Julians (Malta)

2. European Athletics One-Day Meeting Organiser Forum

3. European Athletics One-Day Meeting Organiser Forum

4. European Athletics One-Day Meeting Organiser Forum
• European Athletics Mass Participation Conference
• «Policy Statement»
• Significant Support from the Council/Congress
• Pan European State Assessment
• Creation of a working Group
• Proposal/Concept to the Council

5. European Athletics One-Day Meeting Organiser Forum
Health and Well-Being
HISTORY & FUTURE
• 2011 EA Convention in Arona
• Mass Participation Workshop
• Analysis of Health and Well-Being activities in some countries
including site visits
• Presentation of Analysis to EA Executive Committee & Council
• Health & Well-Being Working Group (combination of Mass
Participation and Health & Fitness Working Groups)
• Development Committee
• 2012 EA Convention in Malta
• Proposals to EA Excutive Committee & Council
• Implementation

6. Health and Well-Being
Competition activities
Performance
Runs & Walks
Leisure & Fitness
Health & Well-Being activities

7. Health and Well-Being
COMPETITIVE CONCEPTS

8. Health and Well-Being
YOUTH RELAYS
Aim: Simple competitive event that engages kids,
schools and clubs
 The format can be adapted to local needs
 EA could create a specific day or time period for nation-
wide events.
 EA could link to programs in other countries through a
central website and database.
 Value for participants: fun, competition.
 Value for schools: recognized program, could link to
other elements of the curriculum
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: engages young
people, talent identification, link to schools, raises profile
as natural authority, documentation of participation in a
key group, partnership opportunity.
Model: Tine Staffetten (NOR, EST, DEN).

9. Health and Well-Being
MASS PARTICIPATION RACE LABELLING SYSTEM
Aim: Link road, cross and mountain races through a system that provides
participants with information on the quality of the organisation.
 EA label should be different from the IAAF label
 Initial set of criteria includes:
 Race recognised / sanctioned by MF
 IAAF Road Race Measurement Certificate
 Time keeping system
 Results provided
 Additional criteria (entry fees, road closures, medical support, drinks stations, prizes, etc.)
 EA could create an European database and race guide.
 Value for participant: information, quality assurance.
 Value for race organisers: quality mark, promotion.
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: central element of being “natural authority”

10. Health and Well-Being
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS MASS PARTICIPATION EVENT
Aim: Integrate a public race into the European
Championships.
 Race under the control of EA, MF and LOC.
 Could be included in any European Athletics event.
 Participants are self-payers who “win” places through
participation in races in the Labelling System.
 Value for participants: chance to participate in a
European Championships
 Value for LOC: engages participants, families, friends in
the Championships, new sponsors.
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: become players in
the running market with a unique service, partnership
opportunity.

11. Health and Well-Being
ROAD RUNNING HANDICAP SYSTEM
Aim: Engage runners interested in their personal
performance through a system that allows
comparison with others locally, nationally and
Europe-wide.
 Races in Labelling System provide results.
 Data smoothing and evaluation system already created.
 Central European database and website plus national
websites (in local language) drawing off the central
database.
 Link to race information, training advice and other
possibilities.
 Value for runners: information, motivation.
 Value for race organisers: promotion.
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: direct link to runners
who might otherwise not be engaged, become players in
the running market with a unique service, partnership
opportunity.
Model: Run Britain (GBR).

12. Health and Well-Being
NON-COMPETITIVE
CONCEPTS

13. Health and Well-Being
MODIFIED ATHLETICS FOR KIDS
Aim: Introduce athletics in a fun and age-
appropriate way that can bring the sport to schools
and help link clubs to schools.
 Leaders qualified through IAAF CECS training programme
(leaders could be teachers or club coaches).
 Strong support available from IAAF.
 Value for participants: fun, competition, fitness.
 Value for schools: addition to the PE curriculum,
recognised programme.
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: link to schools, raises
profile as natural authority, documentation of
participation in a key group, partnership opportunity.
Models: IAAF Kids Athletics and national variants, Kids
Triathlon (ISL), UBS Kids Cup (SUI).

14. Health and Well-Being
MODIFIED ATHLETICS FOR TEENS
Aim: Continuation and development of modified
athletics for kids
 Programme and equipment already created by IAAF and
some MF
 Important step in talent development but also for teens
interested in fitness or well-being aspects
 Link possibilities : sponsors, communications, information
and best practice exchange.
 Leaders qualified through IAAF CECS training programme
 Value for participants: fun, competition, fitness.
 Value for schools: addition to the PE curriculum,
recognised programme.
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: link to schools, raises
profile as natural authority, documentation of participation
in a key group, partnership opportunity.
Models: IAAF Teen Athletics, Kid Stadium & Urban Athle
(FRA)

15. Health and Well-Being
START TO RUN PROGRAMMES
Aim: Instruction, encouragement and company for
beginners taking up running that links them from the
start with the sport through a valued service.
 Fixed set of fitness lessons or group runs let by leaders
or special coaches qualified through training programme.
 Could use branded Apps for smartphones for additional
advice and support.
 Could be implemented for employee groups.
 Value for runners: information, quality assurance, social
contact.
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: establish position as
“natural authority”, become players in the running market
without going up against established commercial
organisers, partnership opportunity
Models: Dutch Runners (NED), My City Run (GER)

16. Health and Well-Being
HEALTH & FITNESS FAIRS
Aim: Events that provide information, opportunities
and contacts for people interested in starting to
exercise for their well-being.
 Activities could include:
 Fun athletics discovery for kids and teenagers
 Nordic walking tours
 Fitness tests with advice based on results
 Information on nutrition and health
 Stands of local clubs, health authorities,
physiologists etc.
 Could use star athletes for promotion.
 Value for participants: information, contacts, inspiration,
motivation.
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: demonstrate
leadership and “natural authority”, partnership
opportunity.
Models: Journées de la Forme (FRA), Day of the
Generations (GER), Family Day (HUN)

17. Health and Well-Being
RUNNING GROUPS
Aim: Encouragement and company for runners of all
abilities that links them with the sport through a
valued service.
 Group Leaders qualified through training programme.
 Groups communicate through central website plus
Facebook, Twitter, etc.
 Could be implemented for employee groups.
 Value for runners: information, quality assurance, social
contact.
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: become players in
the running market, partnership opportunity
Models: Dutch Runners (NED), Run England (GBR)

18. Health and Well-Being
MARKED RUNNING ROUTES
Aim: Permanent “infrastructure” for fitness and
leisure runners.
 Multiple routes set up at strategic locations in conjunction
with land owners (public authorities) and sponsors.
 Possibility to add value of “natural authority” to existing
schemes.
 Value for runners: information, quality assurance.
 Value for MF, EA, athletics: permanent visibility, become
players in the running market without going up against
established commercial organisers, partnership
opportunity
Model: 3-2-1 Routes (part of Run England) (GBR), Helsana
Trails (SUI)

19. Health and Well-Being
PARK RUNS
Aim: Free timed group runs organised on a regular
basis in popular running areas to link unattached
runners to the sport by providing a valued service.
 A non-profit Park Run association already exists
(www.parkrun.com) and organises runs in several
countries. MFs and clubs may be able to add value or
create own system
 Value for runners: information, quality assurance, social
contact.
 Value for MF, EA, sport of athletics: become players in
the running market without going up against established
commercial organisers, add to position of “natural
authority”, partnership opportunity
Model: ParkRun.com (GBR)

20. Health and Well-Being
THANKS