Presentation of Belgrade – host city of EC 2015

Prague, March 7^th 2015 – As part of the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague / 6-8March, delegation of the Athletic Federation of Serbia and Tourist Organization of Belgrade organized today presentation of Belgrade as the future host city of the European Indoor Athletics Championships in 2017. The presentation was officiated by the Mayor of Belgrade Sinisa Mali.

“It gives me a great pleasure to attend this event in Prague. Serbia is a country of sport, and Belgrade has already given proof that they are capable of organizing high profile sports events. Therefore, once again, we will give all it takes to organize these championships to the best of our ability. It is great honour for me to be handed over, on behalf of the city of Belgrade, at tomorrow’s ceremony the flag of the 2017 European Indoor Athletics Championships, said Mayor Mali.

The event was attended by the president of the European Athletics Federation Hasnjorg Wirz, who addressed the audience:

“Although I will not be the president in 2017, it will be great honour for me to attend the event in 2017 in Belgrade. The SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade was superbly organized and I expect no less from the European Indoor Athletics Championships.”

The president of the Athletic Federation of Serbia Veselin Jevrosimovic addressed the public:

“As president of the Athletic Federation of Serbia, I can promise you that we will do all in our power to organize the forthcoming event to the best of our ability.”

Since the day before the Serbian athlete Asmir Kolasina won the silver medal in shot-putting at the EC in Prague, he said:

“For me, as the gold medal winner in Goteborg and the silver medal winner in Prague, it will be great honour to welcome top athletes to Serbia. This medal is another proof of the respect Serbian athletes have both in Europe and in the world. It is great honour for Serbian sport, not only for athletics, to be the host city of the European Championships. We will finally have the chance to compete at home. I have an additional obligation – i.e. not to disappoint my fans but to win gold like I did in Goteborg, but with a better score.”

The presentation of Belgrade as a tourist destination and the host city of the 2017 European Indoor Athletics Championships took place following the addresses.

Among the guests were the vice presidents of IAAF Sebastian Cow and Sergei Bubka, secretary general of the Athletic Federation of Serbia Slobodan Brankovic, AFS manager Dragutin Topic, representative of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Bogdan Knezevic, secretary of Sport and Youth of the City of Belgrade Slavka Gak director of Kombank Arena Djordje Milutinovic, manager of Volkswagen for Serbia Milan Lazic and many other officials.

On Sunday, March 8^th, the handing over of the flag of the European federation will take place, marking the official beginning of the organization of the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Belgrade in 2017.

In the next two years Belgrade will organize the event. All city institutions will take part in the organization. The European Championships in Belgrade will be held between 3^rd and 5^th of March 2017 in Kombank Arena, gathering some 1000 athletes and 10000 guests.

The official site of the 2017 European Indoor Athletics Championships was launched today. Please find the necessary information at:  www.belgrade 2017.org.