Bulletin

Park van Laken / Parc de Laeken - Brussels

Sunday 14 December 2008 www.brussels2008.com

Contents Welcome

Welcome ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Organisational Structure .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Brussels, the heart of Europe ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Airport and Train Station ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6-7

Hotels ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Competition Timetable ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Course and Facilities .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Visa Information & LOC Contact .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Cross country running has a long and successful tradition in Europe and is growing to be an ever more important part of athletics during the winter months.

Cross country brings together athletes from the middle distances up to the marathon in the same race and provides a special challenge as the running surface can change according to the weather conditions. Therefore the SPAR European Cross Country Championships are always an exciting and interesting competition, with the added dimension of also being a team event.

Brussels has built itself an enviable reputation as an excellent host venue for Cross country running through its hosting of numerous International Championships and I have no doubt it will be a fitting venue for the 15th SPAR European Cross Country Championships.

The combination of the beauty of the local environment and the natural obstacles which will be on the course will provide a memorable experience for athletes, officials and fans alike. I would like to thank the Belgian Federation and the local authorities in Brussels for their hard work on the organisation of the Championships.

After the great success of last year’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Toro, Spain, all European fans of cross country running are now looking forward with great expectation to this year’s Championships.

I am really looking forward to meeting Europe’s cross country family in December in Brussels.

Hansjörg Wirz, President, European Athletics

On 14 December this year the Royal Belgian Athletics Foundation will have the enormous pleasure of hosting the 15th SPAR European Cross Country Championships.We are very grateful to European Athletics who have awarded our country with the great honour of organising this exceptional championship. May we remind you that the city of Charleroi with its beautiful Monceau Park, took over the baton from the city of Alnwick, that organised the first two European Championships. At the time this championship was still in its infancy. Twelve years later after having visited different countries in Europe, it is returning to Belgium. Our country has not been sitting idle in the meantime when it comes to organising cross country races. Who could forget the IAAF World Championships in the hippodrome of Ostend in 2001 and more recently the World Championships in Brussels in 2004?It is at this fabulous location for the 2004 World Championships, in the beautiful Parc de Laeken, between the world-renowned Atomium and the Royal Palace, that the best European cross country specialists will be meeting. A location that many know as the location of the well-known ‘IAAF-cross’ that takes place each winter. Together with our partners of the Royal Belgian Athletics Foundation, we guarantee an impeccable high-quality organisation of the 15th European Cross Country Championships. The KBAB and our partners, Vzw CrossCup, organisers of the IAAF World Cup in Brussels together with the company Golazo Sports, highly experienced organisers of top-quality sports competitions (Memorial Van Damme), will leave nothing to chance and will meet the highest expectations set not only by the European Athletics Federation, but above all by the athletes and the delegations from all European countries. And last but not least, the City of Brussels and the Brussels Capital Region are also making an indispensable contribution to this event. We hope you enjoy your stay and wish you much success in the capital of Europe.

Eddy De Vogelaer & Léo Lefèvre - Presidents, Royal Belgian Athletics Foundation

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Organisational Structure Brussels

European Athletics Council

President ..................................................................................................................................................... Hansjörg Wirz (SUI) Vice Presidents ................................................................................................................................... José Luis De Carlos (ESP).................................................................................................................................................................................... Svein Arne Hansen (NOR)Treasurer ..................................................................................................................................................... Karel Pilny (CZE) Director General .............................................................................................................................. Christian Milz (SUI)Members .................................................................................................................................................... Janez Aljancic (SLO) .................................................................................................................................................................................... Francesco Arese (ITA).................................................................................................................................................................................... Sylvia Barlag (NED).................................................................................................................................................................................... Jonathan Edwards (GBR).................................................................................................................................................................................... Frank Hensel (GER).................................................................................................................................................................................... Dobromir Karamarinov (BUL).................................................................................................................................................................................... Philippe Lamblin (FRA).................................................................................................................................................................................... Toralf Nilsson (SWE).................................................................................................................................................................................... Ludmila Olijar (LAT).................................................................................................................................................................................... Antti Pihlakoski (FIN).................................................................................................................................................................................... Jorge Salcedo (POR).................................................................................................................................................................................... Salih Münir Yaras (TUR).................................................................................................................................................................................... Vadim Zelichenok (RUS)IAAF President (ex officio member) ..................................................................... Lamine Diack (SEN)European Athletics Honorary Life President ............................................ Carl-Olaf Homén (FIN)

European Athletics Delegates

European Athletics Representative ....................................................................... Hansjörg Wirz (SUI)Technical Delegate ....................................................................................................................... Luis Landa (ESP)Doping Control Delegate .................................................................................................... Frederic Depiesse (FRA)Jury of Appeal ..................................................................................................................................... Appointed at Technical Meeting

European Athletics Office

Director General .............................................................................................................................. Christian Milz (SUI)Project Leader ..................................................................................................................................... Jérôme Parmentier (FRA)Event Manager .................................................................................................................................... Ivan Khodabakhsh (GER)Event Coordinators ...................................................................................................................... Weronika Maslowska (POL).................................................................................................................................................................................... Bernadette Brun Brenger (FRA)Competition Manager ............................................................................................................. Célia Mendes (POR)Communication Manager ................................................................................................... Pierce O’Callaghan (IRL)Marketing Manager ...................................................................................................................... Lars Kaiser (GER)

Local Organising Committee

LOC Co-Presidents ....................................................................................................................... Eddy De Vogelaer .................................................................................................................................................................................... Léo Lefévre LOC Managing Directors ...................................................................................................... Christophe Impens .................................................................................................................................................................................... Willy Pennoit LOC Representative of the Brussels Capital Region ...................... Arlette Verkruyssen LOC Representative of the City of Brussels ............................................. Christian Friant LOC Representative of Brussels Environment ....................................... Serge Kempeneers Technical Expert & Competition Director ................................................... Jos Van Roy TV Director ............................................................................................................................................. Lena De Meerleer Marketing & Communication Director ............................................................ Greg Broekmans Event Manager .................................................................................................................................... Jeroen Janssens Press Officer .......................................................................................................................................... Jos Segaert Accommodation & Transport Manager .......................................................... Marc Devenyns Protocol / VIP / Public Relations Director .................................................. Willy Pennoit General Secretary & Administration .................................................................... Liesbeth Peeters

Brussels, the heart of Europe

Brussels is the largest city in Belgium, and the administrative heart of the European Union (EU). The City of Brussels in the Brussels-Capital Region is the country’s capital. Brussels has grown from a 10th century fortress town founded by Charlemagne’s grandson into a city of over one million inhabitants.

Brussels is also capital of the Brussels-Capital Region, of Flanders and of the French Community of Belgium.

Depending on the context, the word Brussels may mean the largest municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region officially called the City of Brussels and contains 145.917 inhabitants, the Brussels-Capital Region with 1.031.215 inhabitants or, the metropolitan area of Brussels (ca. 1,350,000 inhabitants).

Brussels is often considered the de facto capital of the European Union, and hosts key EU institutions such as the Commission, Parliament and the Council.

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Airport Train Station

The organisation of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships Brussels 2008 will provide transportation for all accredited people arriving at Brussels International Airport.

Brussels International Airport

Brussels Airport, also Zaventem Airport or Brussels (Zaventem) International Airport, was formerly known as “Brussel Nationaal/Bruxelles-National” (Brussels National). It is an international airport located in Zaventem, near Brussels.

The airport is a hub to Brussels Airlines, European Air Transport, Jet Airways, Singapore Airlines Cargo, Eva Air Cargo and Saudi Arabian Cargo. It is also a hub for a private company called Abelag Aviation.

The airport is home to around 260 companies, together directly employing 20,000 people.In 2005, the airport was awarded Best Airport in Europe by ACI/IATA, based on a survey conducted with over 100,000 passengers worldwide.

Connections Brussels International Airport:

UNITED KINGDOM Airport CompanyBirmingham ............................................... Brussels AirlinesBristol ................................................................ Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... FlybeGlasgow ......................................................... Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... British AirwaysLondon City ............................................. VLMLondon Gatwick ................................ Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... British AirwaysLondon Heathrow ........................... Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... British Airways

Manchester ............................................... Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... FlybeSouthampton ......................................... Brussels Airlines

FRANCEAirport CompanyLyon ..................................................................... Air France...................................................................................... Brussels AirlinesMarseille ........................................................ Brussels AirlinesNice ..................................................................... Brussels AirlinesParis ...................................................................... Brussels AirlinesStrasbourg ................................................... Brussels AirlinesToulon .............................................................. JetairflyToulouse ........................................................ Brussels Airlines

GERMANYAirport CompanyBerlin Tegel ................................................ LufthansaBerlin Tempelhof ............................... Brussels AirlinesBremen ............................................................ Ostfriesische

LufttransportFrankfurt ........................................................ LufthansaHamburg ....................................................... Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... LufthansaHannover ..................................................... LufthansaMünchen ...................................................... LufthansaStuttgart ........................................................ Lufthansa

SPAINAirport CompanyAlicante .......................................................... JetairflyAlmeria ............................................................ JetairflyBarcelona ..................................................... Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... Clickair...................................................................................... Finnair...................................................................................... Iberia...................................................................................... Vueling Bilbao ................................................................. Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... FinnairFuerteventura ........................................ JetairflyGerona ............................................................. JetairflyIbiza ..................................................................... JetairflyJerez ..................................................................... JetairflyLas Palmas ................................................... JetairflyMadrid .............................................................. Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... Iberia...................................................................................... Jet Airways...................................................................................... Luthuanian AirlinesMalaga .............................................................. Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... JetairflyMenorca ........................................................ JetairflyPalma Mallorca ..................................... Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... JetairflyTenerife .......................................................... JetairflyVigo ...................................................................... Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... Iberia

ITALY Airport CompanyBologna .......................................................... Alitalia...................................................................................... Brussels AirlinesFirenze .............................................................. Brussels AirlinesGenua ............................................................... Air Dolomiti...................................................................................... Lufthansa...................................................................................... United AirlinesMilan Linate .............................................. Alitalia...................................................................................... Brussels AirlinesMilan Malpensa ................................... Alitalia...................................................................................... Brussels AirlinesMilan Orio Al Serio ........................ Brussels AirlinesNapels .............................................................. Brussels Airlines...................................................................................... JetairflyPalermo .......................................................... JetairflyRome .................................................................. Alitalia...................................................................................... Brussels AirlinesVenice VCE ................................................ Alitalia...................................................................................... Brussels Airlines

The organisation of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships Brussels 2008 will provide transportation for all accredited people arriving at Brussels Midi Train Station.

Bruxelles Midi

Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid (Brussels South) is a major railway station in Brussels and Belgium. The station is served by a stop (Gare du Midi / Zuidstation) on the Brussels Metro system. There are daily more than 1000 trains between Brussels-South and Brussels-North.

Connections Bruxelles Midi:

THALYSDestinations:• Germany• France• The NetherlandsInfo: www.thalys.com

EUROSTARDestinations:• London• ParisInfo: www.eurostar.com

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Hotels Competition Timetable

EUROPEAN ATHLETICS FAMILY & VIP HOTEL

SHERATON BRUSSELS HOTEL ****Place Rogier 31210 Brusselwww.sheratonbrussels.be

TEAM HOTEL

THON HOTEL BRUSSEL CITY CENTRE ****Avenue du Boulevard 171210 Brusselwww.thonhotels.be

TEAM HOTEL

THON HOTEL BRUSSELS AIRPORT ***Berkenlaan 431831 Diegemwww.thonhotels.be

TECHNICAL PARTNERS & MEDIA HOTEL

HOLIDAY INN GARDEN COURT BRUSSELS EXPO HOTEL ***Avenue Impératrice Charlotte 61020 Laekenwww.holiday-inn.com/bru-expo

Distances to the course

SHERATON BRUSSELS HOTEL: 6 kmTHON HOTEL BRUSSEL CITY CENTRE: 6,5 kmTHON HOTEL BRUSSELS AIRPORT: 16,5 kmHOLIDAY INN GARDEN COURT BRUSSELS EXPO HOTEL: 1 km

Transportation

A regular bus service will be provided between the team hotels, training venues, social functions, the technical meeting and the competition venue. Transfer times between the hotels and the competition venue will be between 10 and 20 minutes depending on the traffic conditions.

11.00 ........................................................................... Opening Ceremony

11.15 .............................................................................. Junior Women – 1 lap of 1.000m + 2 laps of 1.500m, total 4.000m11.40 ............................................................................ Victory Ceremony Junior Women (individual)11.45 ............................................................................ Victory Ceremony Junior Women (teams)

11.55 ............................................................................ Junior Men – 4 laps of 1.500m, total 6.000m12.20 .......................................................................... Victory Ceremony Junior Men (individual)12.25 .......................................................................... Victory Ceremony Junior Men (teams)

12.35 ........................................................................... U23 Women – 4 laps of 1.500m, total 6.000m13.05 .......................................................................... Victory Ceremony U23 Women (individual)13.10 ............................................................................ Victory Ceremony U23 Women (teams)

13.20 .......................................................................... U23 Men – 2 laps of 1.000m + 4 laps of 1.500m, total 8.000m13.55 ........................................................................... Victory Ceremony U23 Men (individual)14.00 .......................................................................... Victory Ceremony U23 Men (teams)

14.10 ............................................................................ Senior Women – 2 laps of 1.000m + 4 laps of 1.500m, total 8.000m14.45 .......................................................................... Victory Ceremony Seniors Women (individual)14.50 .......................................................................... Victory Ceremony Senior Women (teams)

15.05 .......................................................................... Senior Men – 1 lap of 1.000m + 6 laps of 1.500m, total 10.000m 15.40 .......................................................................... Victory Ceremony Senior Men (individual)15.45 .......................................................................... Victory Ceremony Senior Men (teams)

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Course Site & Facilities Visa & LOC

Visa Information

Countries that have signed the Schengen agreement are the following:AUT, BEL, ESP, FIN, FRA, GER, GRE, ITA, LUX, NED, POR, SWE

Countries that DON’T require a Visa to enter Belgium:AND, BUL, CRO, CYP, CZE, EST, HUN, GBR, GIB, IRL, ISL, ISR, LAT, LIE, LTU, MLT, MON, NOR, POL, ROM, SLO, SMR, SUI, SVK

Countries that require a Visa:ALB, ARM, AZE, BIH, BLR, GEO, MDA, MKD, MNE, RUS, SRB, TUR, UKR

Entrance

Entrance to the SPAR European Cross Country Championships Brussels 2008 is free.

Contact LOC

Brussels 2008Schoebroekstraat 83583 Paal-BeringenBelgium

Tel: + 32 11 45 99 62Fax: + 32 11 45 99 10

info@brussels2008.comhttp://www.brussels2008.com

Athletes parking

Athletes entrance

Press parking

Press entrance

VIP entrance

VIP parking

Public entrance

Public toilets

Public refreshments

TV compound

Youth races

Warming up zone

Athletes clothes deposit

Call room

Pre start zone

Start

Finish line

Mixed zone

Clothes collection

Awards room

Award podium

Doping control

Results

Press tribune

VIP lounge

VIP grand stand

Timing

Copy centreCopy centre

Photographers podium

Technical Information Centre

LOC & European Athletics Office

Video screen

First aid

Team toilettes

Press centre

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L PA RT N E R S

I N T E R N AT I O N A L S E RV I C E PA RT N E R S

N AT I O N A L PA RT N E R S I N ST I T u T I O N S