10th June 2013 07:11
They will pull on their countries vests and combine in a bid to win the European Athletics Team Championship, whether it be the Super League in Gateshead, the First League in Dublin, the Second League in Kaunas or the Third League in Banska Bystrica.
It is one of those special weekends, where gradually the atmosphere builds from the opening race to the finale where even fifth place in a 4 x 400m relay can mean the point that confirms either promotion, relegation, or the overall title.
And the greatest irony of the European Athletics Team Championship? You could probably win a division without even winning too many events.
It is why, when they announce their team, the French can look back on last Thursday's IAAF Diamond League in Rome as a perfect grounding for what they might achieve in North east England on the weekend of June 22-23.
France were fifth in the Championship when it was last staged in 2011 in Stockholm - there was no event last year because of the busy schedule of the European Athletics Championships and Olympic Games.
In its previous guise as the European Cup, the French men won it twice.
Now it is all about team work between the men and women in this joint competition, a combination where every jump, every hurdle cleared, every inch of the track eaten up can mean an extra point.
But it does not actually mean finishing fourth or even seventh is a bad day at the office.
It is proving quite a summer for French athletes and in Rome, even though they did not win an event at the Diamond League, their consistency was outstanding.
If France take a combination of their finishing positions from there to Gateshead, they will be challenging for the trophy.
Renaud Lavillenie was second in the pole vault, Teddy Tamgho was third in the triple jump, Pierre-Ambroise Bosse ran a personal best for second in the 800m, as did Jimmy Vicaut for third in the 100m before Pascal Martinot-Lagarde was second in the 110m hurdles. Even Eloyse Lesueur's sixth in the long jump - with a season's best of 6.78m - would add to the overall points she should repeat at the European Athletics Team Championships.
It is more than probable she will be much higher up the ranking, and it is not without possibility that all those who performed so well in Rome might win their event in Gateshead.
Not necessarily Vicaut though, because he may not even make the individual 100m team such is the form of double European champion Christophe Lemaitre who ran 9.98 - with a wind of +2.9 - to beat American Justin Gatlin, second in 10.02, in Rabat on Sunday.
Gatlin had won in Rome, beating Usain Bolt, with Vicaut in third.
Lemaitre opted out of the 100m in London for the 200m but by inflicting a first defeat of the season on Gatlin, he may see that as a psychological lift in his overall progression in the event.
Equally breaking 10 seconds is always such a huge barrier. Yes, he was aided by a strong wind but just to see that clock showing 9.98 would be important. It will not stand for record purposes - he has the fourth fastest European mark of all-time with 9.92 - but it will do wonders for confidence.
What will the selectors do now? Lemaitre may double up, but he could even run the 200m and Vicaut the 100m. It is a good problem to be faced with.
Tamgho is jumping good distances again after his long injury lay off, while Bosse was sensational as he battled his way through for second in Rome in a personal best of 1:43.91.
He will be the favourite in Gateshead, as will Lavillenie, despite his defeat in the Diamond League.
Russia and Germany will be strong, as will Britain. Which country will combine the best?
In 12 days time, all will be revealed.