Dates for Lisbon 2016 EMA Non-Stadia Championships
Written by Maurice Doogan on 14/01/2015
In case you have read the latest report on the EMA Non-Stadia Championships in Lisbon in 2016, on the EMA website, let me quell some possible fears that may have arisen, from reading that report. The report states that the Championship will run from 16th to 22nd May 2016, which suggests it will extend to seven days rather than the normal three. I have raised concerns about this, but have been assured by the President that these dates only apply to whole programme of events which the LOC, Lisbon City Council and Portuguese Athletics are putting together to involve the whole population of the City. Various competitions and events are proposed, which will precede the three day Masters Championship which will include the normal format of events. I was somewhat taken aback, at the EMA General Assembly in Izmir, that the LOC are expecting 3000 athletes to enter the Championships. This expectation, based on this report, appears to be based on the assumption that they can encourage nearly 2000 Portuguese Masters age group residents of Lisbon to join in. Unless they give a substantial discount to these ’entrants’, that appears to be even more than just a ‘pipe’ dream, but only time will tell.