The word respite no longer exists in Svein Arne Hansen’s vocabulary. The Norwegian was elected on April 11 as president of the European Athletics Association (AEA). At 68, he intends to carry out his mandate at full speed. He was present in Sochi for the SportAccord Convention earlier this week, where FrancsJeux the encounter. He will lead his first Executive Council on April 28 and 29 in Lausanne. And he is preparing for a month of June marked by change. Interview.
FrancsJeux: The decision taken by the IAAF to grant Eugene, in the United States, the organization of the 2021 world championships did not seem to satisfy you much. For what?
Svein Arne Hansen: Make no mistake, I have nothing against Eugene, and nothing against the idea of organizing the world championships there in 2021. But I do not agree with the process used by the IAAF, which awarded the American city the event without opening the call for applications. The Swedes from Gothenburg were preparing a file to apply for these outdoor World Championships. The IAAF knew this. The year 2021 will be marked by the 400th anniversary of the creation of the city. It is not certain that the Swedish Federation will be able to obtain the budget to enter the race again, for 2023 for example, outside of this historical context.
Another hot topic: the European Games. What is your position today on the presence of athletics in this continental event?
I met Patrick Hickey (the president of the Association of European Olympic Committees, editor's note), on several occasions, to discuss this issue. There are still many conditional subjects. It is important, from my point of view, that athletics is present at its highest level at the European Games. But before we can really support this competition, we will have to find an agreement with the EOC. Today, I cannot guarantee it. The date of the next edition will be crucial to reaching an agreement.
Athletics has just joined forces with rowing, cycling, triathlon and swimming to create the European Sports Championships in 2018 in Berlin and Glasgow. What does this initiative inspire you?
It's a very good idea. By grouping together the European Championships of five sports, we can gain media exposure. Today, it is essential to innovate to achieve this. And I am convinced that Berlin will be a perfect place to launch this initiative.
What do you think of the idea, tested in certain competitions, of “taking” some events out of the stadium to organize them in town, among the general public?
The idea is interesting, as are all those that can help attract a younger audience to athletics. But in a major championship, I don't think it is wise. For a European Championship, the events must remain in the stadium.
Shortly after your election as president of the AEA, you mentioned the possibility of creating working groups to reflect on the evolution of athletics. Where is this idea?
She is moving forward. I would like to see, in fact, working groups looking into different subjects, in parallel with our commissions. I am going to send, on behalf of the AEA, a letter to our 50 national federations to ask them to present candidates to the various commissions. The aim will be to be able to form these groups and commissions at the Council meeting in June 2015 in Oslo, so that they can then quickly get to work.
European athletics is currently lagging considerably behind in certain events, especially middle distance. Is it still possible to close the gap?
I think so. The Americans succeeded. We must do something, not give up. I am very keen to bring European middle distance back to the highest level in the world. Among the possible options, we could bring together the best runners on the continent for training courses. Emulation could have very positive effects.
