Below is an extract from the latest issue of Inside Track, European Athletics’ official online magazine, featuring an update from CEO Christian Milz on the state of the sport.
As we draw closer to the end of another action-packed year, I am pleased to share an update on the progress and direction of European Athletics.
While much of the public attention rightly focuses on our athletes and events, it is often the work behind the scenes – in digital transformation, strategic development and structural reform – that defines the long-term health and impact of our sport.
This past year has seen European Athletics make significant strides in modernising how we operate, connect and deliver value.
At the centre of this evolution is our Digital Journey – a multi-phase transformation designed to position us as a forward-thinking, data-informed and fan-focused organisation. Three major developments have been central to this journey:
- A website redesign, offering a vastly improved user experience and acting as a central hub for live event coverage, statistics, athlete information and federation services.
- A new Live Results platform, which delivered outstanding performance during the Apeldoorn 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships and European Athletics Team Championships in Madrid and Maribor.
- And our Media Asset Management platform, which is reshaping how we store, access and distribute visual content across events and federations – an essential tool for partners, media and our own storytelling teams.
During Apeldoorn 2025, our website attracted more than 860,000 unique users, over three times the traffic of Istanbul 2023. The digital experience at Brussels-Leuven 2025 – thanks to the Run Europe platform and first ever studio experience – and at the European Athletics Team Championships further validated this approach, with thousands accessing real-time data and assets.
In parallel, our social media platforms grew by more than 25,000 followers. European Athletics’ collaboration with the EBU ensured the championships were televised in 35 countries, bringing the action to millions across Europe.
But digital transformation is not just about numbers. It is about increasing visibility, enhancing fan experience and improving service delivery for Member Federations, athletes, partners and the broader athletics community.
These tools will also allow us to better activate rights for sponsors, improve the discoverability of European Athletics content globally and build deeper direct relationships with fans across generations.
Alongside this digital progress, we have also advanced our work on governance, ethics and inclusion. This year, the European Athletics Council approved a suite of updated policies on Human Rights, Safeguarding and our Code of Ethics, as part of our strategic roadmap.
This work is not symbolic, it is being embedded into operations through education, guidance and accountability, and will help ensure a safe, fair and inclusive sport for all.
In November, we will host a dedicated Risk Management Workshop, bringing together Member Federations to share best practices, strengthen compliance, and ensure the highest standards of integrity and organisational resilience across our sport.
We also continue to invest in capacity-building and leadership within our community. Our Development Commission has introduced a new suite of tools to support youth engagement, inclusive leadership and environmental sustainability.
Projects like Athletics for All, the Mentoring Programme, Coach Networking and our High Performance Conferences remain core parts of our development ecosystem, helping to strengthen knowledge exchange and support the next generation of athletics professionals.
The new Athletes’ Zone, launched at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere, was another great success – a safe, inclusive and youth-led space that empowered young athletes to connect, learn and explore topics that matter both on and off the track.
On the sustainability front, we were proud to see important progress made at the first-ever European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven. With more than 28,000 participants and huge numbers of spectators, the event took meaningful steps to reduce its environmental footprint, including efforts around waste management, local sourcing and athlete transport.
These practices, supported by our new sustainability assessment framework, are part of a broader effort to ensure that European Athletics events meet both sporting and societal expectations.
Meanwhile, the work of our Events & Competition Commission, along with our Technical and Governance bodies, continues to improve the structure and delivery of our competitions. Calendar alignment, event format updates and technical official development remain key priorities.
At our Council meeting in Sarajevo confirmed important changes to the European Athletics Championships programme, including the introduction of a 4x100m mixed relay and revised race walking formats. These adjustments reflect our willingness to innovate while remaining rooted in the traditions and integrity of our sport.
The successful delivery of the 2025 European Athletics Team Championships in Madrid and Maribor was a strong demonstration of that collaborative spirit in action.
The championships reflected our shared commitment to staging impactful, well-managed events that celebrate both performance and national pride. In Bergen and Tampere, the European Athletics U23 and U20 Championships once again showcased our sport’s finest rising stars.
As we look ahead, we have much to be excited about. Preparations for the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships are progressing well, both in terms of operational readiness and strategic vision.
At the same time, the awarding of the 2027 U20 and U23 Championships to Bydgoszcz marks a landmark moment as the first time both age-group events have been staged in the same city in the same year as a strategic choice (both events were held in Tallinn in 2021 due to the pandemic).
At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Europe’s athletes once again demonstrated their strength and unity on the global stage. Across every event group, from sprints and hurdles to jumps, throws and race walking, European competitors delivered exceptional performances, winning 47 medals across 21 nations – a testament to the talent, teamwork and dedication that continue to define our continent’s sporting success.
What underpins all of this success is collaboration – whether through our partnerships with Member Federations, our relationships with sponsors and suppliers, or the dedication of our staff, volunteers and event organisers. It is this collective energy that drives progress at European Athletics.
Our mission to grow the reach, relevance and resilience of athletics in Europe remains crystal clear. That requires innovation, not only in how we compete, but also in how we operate, communicate and lead.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to that shared mission.
Christian Milz