Athletics is fundamentally a generational sport. Behind the athletes breaking records on the track is an administrative infrastructure that requires decades of institutional knowledge to maintain. Yet across the European sports landscape, a structural gap often exists between the current executives guiding the sport and the incoming generation stepping up to inherit it.
For 20 years, the European Athletics Future Leaders Forum has served as the critical bridge across that divide. As the initiative celebrates its landmark 20th anniversary at the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championship from 10-16 August, European Athletics is taking its most ambitious step yet to empower the next generation of sports administrators.
Introducing the Legacy Lab
To mark this 20-year milestone, the forum is completely revamping its operational blueprint by introducing the Legacy Lab, a guided, collaborative project journey. The shift is highly strategic. Surveys conducted with incoming participants revealed that the next generation wants to move beyond simply voicing their opinions; they want to demonstrate tangible outcomes.
The Legacy Lab divides participants across four distinct challenge tracks, ranging from grassroots growth to digital innovation. These were taken directly from the real-world problems Future Leaders are currently facing in their home federations. By bringing together peers who face the same challenges but operate with vastly different resources and cultural backgrounds, the forum acts as an elite incubator for practical problem-solving.
“For me, this anniversary is not about looking back at 20 successful years, it is about looking ahead,” said Karin Grute Movin, European Athletics Vice President and Executive Board Member. “Over the past two decades, we have created far more than a forum; we have built a community of passionate young people who continue to contribute to athletics across Europe.
“Seeing former participants now leading projects, serving in federations and helping shape our sport is something I'm incredibly proud of. It shows that investing in people creates a lasting legacy, and that is exactly what European Athletics wants to achieve.”
Learning from the Leaders
The educational schedule in Birmingham is designed to expose participants to leadership across every aspect of the sport. Following an opening address by World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe and European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov, the Future Leaders will attend targeted masterclasses.
The curriculum features highly respected figures representing the full spectrum of the sport's ecosystem: Nick Pearson, CEO of Forte Talent Group, the agency behind the rise of major British track stars and former Managing Director of Parkrun UK, will speak about business and career development; Jackie Newton, Sports Director for the Danish Athletics Federation, will address leadership challenges and elite development pathways; and Chris Moss, Development Director for UK Athletics, will focus on legacy.
European Athletics Development Commission Members Scott Grace, Emmanuelle Jager and Katrin Heyers will lend their expertise on different topics.
The classroom theory is anchored by live stadium experience. By attending the evening championship sessions at Alexander Stadium, the participants witness the ultimate outcome of effective administration: understanding first-hand that an elite event is only made possible by the quiet, tireless development and policy work happening behind the scenes.
“One of my strongest beliefs is that we should never wait for the next generation to be ready,” added Karin Grute Movin. “We should create opportunities for them to contribute today. Federations that involve young leaders become stronger, more innovative and better equipped to meet the changing expectations of athletes, volunteers and society.
“They challenge our thinking, bring fresh perspectives and help us remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. Investing in Future Leaders is therefore not just about developing tomorrow's leadership, but rather it is about strengthening athletics leadership today.”
An Open Invitation to Member Federations
The ultimate goal of the Future Leaders Forum is to return these participants to their home countries armed with solutions. To that end the 2026 forum concludes with Legacy of Leaders, a vibrant session in which former participants, new participants and member federations can exchange knowledge and learn from each other. This will take place on Sunday August 16th, from 10:30 to 12:00 BST at the Library of Birmingham.
During this interactive morning expo, the Future Leaders will present their Legacy Lab poster projects directly to visiting federation CEOs, presidents and executives.
European Athletics extends an open invitation to all Member Federation representatives in Birmingham to attend this final Legacy of Leaders session. It is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the sport’s emerging talent, explore fresh ideas for the future of athletics and see first-hand how the next generation is stepping confidently into the leadership void.