At his first European Athletics Championships as President of European Athletics, Svein-Arne Hansen took the opportunity at the official press conference held in the Stedelijk Museum to present five leading athletes with their competition bibs, which will bear the anti-doping messages: “I Run Clean”, “I Jump Clean” and “I Throw Clean.”
Olympic champions Renaud Lavillenie and Greg Rutherford, and home athletes Nadine Broersen, Churandy Martina and Rutger Smith were presented with their bibs in what was one of a number of innovations that will take place at the Amsterdam 2016 event.
“We are trying to give a signal that clean athletes take it seriously and support our ideas because all of us want a clean sport. This is a symbol.”
The President added: “It will be a new beginning for athletics. I have always said that these European Championships in Amsterdam will be a turning point - now we are going to focus on the sport.”
Hansen was also asked to comment on the record number of athletes entered to compete this week in Amsterdam.
“I am not surprised that there are a record number of participants at these Championships. Athletes and teams are coming out in full force to prepare because they are the ones who want these events to win medals and prepare for the Olympics.
“It is my first European Athletics Championships as President, but I have been to every one since 1974, and my first impressions of these Championships are excellent.”
European Athletics CEO Christian Milz added: “The organising committee is 100 per cent ready and we’re all looking forward to getting these championships started.
“They have been working very hard, days and nights, to have a successful championship. In the stadium it’s fantastic. And with the new city dressing nobody can ignore that there is a big event being held this week.
“There’s a kind of ‘Oranje’ fever going on, not associated with football this time, but with athletics!
“The slogan of the Championships is ‘Athletics Like Never Before’, and we have a lot of innovations.
“There are two official venues – The Olympic stadium and the Museumplein where we will have the qualifications for discus and javelin throws. In addition, we have the first half marathon in the history of the European Athletics Championships.
“We will have victory ceremonies in a fantastic medal plaza, and for the first time we are working in association with International Paralympic events in the stadium and at Museumplein.
“Finally, as of course it is an Olympic year, we have allowed for athletes to qualify directly to the semi-finals in sprinting events based on season lists.
“Ticket sales are going very, very well. We are sold out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There is still availability on Wednesday and Sunday so fans can still find seats for this extraordinary event.”