7th December 2010 09:35
Forty eight countries have confirmed their participation at the 31st European Athletics Indoor Championships to be held in Paris through 4-6 March, 2011.
A total of 633 athletes, 334 men, 299 women, have been entered on the provisional entry list for Paris 2011, marginally higher than for the last edition of the championships in Torino in 2009.Given the high number of entrants for some jumps and throws events, two qualifying rounds will be organised instead of one. As many as 33 athletes have been entered for the women’s long jump.
For the French athletes, the European Athletics Indoor Championships is the main goal of the winter season.
“They all want to be there, to shine in front of the home crowd. Barcelona (European Athletics Championships) was like a dream for French athletes and we want to bring that festive atmosphere to Bercy, to provide a fitting representation of French athletics,” said Ghani Yalouz, the national technical manager of the French athletics team.
Christophe Lemaitre (60m), Renaud Lavillenie (pole vault), Romain Barras (heptathlon), Myriam Soumaré (60m), Teddy Tamgho (triple jump), Martial Mbandjock (60m), Kafétien Gomis (long jump), Véronique Mang (60m), all European medallists in Barcelona last summer, are all set to compete at Paris 2011.
The winner of each event at the French indoor championships in Aubière on the 19-20 February will secure direct qualification to Paris 2011 while others can still earn a place if they manage to achieve the qualification criterion set by the French athletics federation between 1 January and 20 February 2011.
A selection committee will reserve the right to invite athletes, on the basis of results achieved at the French indoor championships or their position on the European season’s list, given they achieve the minimum criteria set by the French federation.
Meanwhile 51% of the tickets for European Athletics Indoor Championships have already been sold. In total, 24,000 tickets are currently on offer for the public, through www.ticketnet.fr and at some select retail outlets. The prices of the tickets range between £10 and £50 according to the day and category.