Energizer, the world’s leading dry cell battery and flashlight manufacturer, has today announced that it has become an international partner of the European Athletic Association Programme of Championship events 2000-2003, beginning with the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Malmö, Sweden, on Sunday December 10th, 2000.

The competition, which will be televised across major European territories including France, UK, Spain and Sweden as well as Eurosport, will be held on a specially created 1200m course in Malmö’s Bulltofta Park. The course will provide a challenging terrain for a field of outstanding athletes, from middle distance track runners to elite marathon runners, who will be competing to become the European Cross Country Champions of 2000.

In the Senior Women’s event run over four laps of the course, last year’s silver medallist Constantina Dita from Romania will be looking to go one better this year. Meanwhile, in the Senior Men’s race, comprising eight laps, the Portuguese will again be amongst the favourites following the Gold and Silver medals won last year by Paulo Guerra and Eduardo Henriques respectively.

Martin Burch, Brand Marketing Director, Energizer Europe said, ‘Energizer is delighted to become the power behind European Athletics by sponsoring the EAA Championship Programme. The SPAR European Cross Country Championships kick-starts Energizer’s involvement in top-level competitions across the European athletics calendar’.

Hansjörg Wirz, President of the European Athletic Association commented, ‘We are very excited about our new partnership with Energizer. Cross country is about power and stamina and a top product like Energizer complements the spirit of this endurance sport’.

EAA SCHEDULE 2000-2003

-SPAR European Cup, Bremen, Germany – 23-24 June 2001
-SPAR European Cross Country Championships, Thun, Switzerland – 9 Dec 2001
-European Indoor Championships, Vienna, Austria – 1-3 March 2002
-SPAR European Cup, Annecy, France – 22-23 June 2002
-European Championships, Munich, Germany – 6-11 August 2002
-SPAR European Cross Country Championships, Pula, Croatia – 8 Dec 2002
-European Indoor Cup, TBC, February 2003*
-SPAR European Cup, Florence, Italy, 21-22 2003 June

* Dates to be confirmed

For Further Information Please Contact:

Nicolas Russi, EAA Media Officer
Tel 00 41 (0)62 752 9025
Fax 00 41 (0)62 752 9026
Or email media@eaa-athletics.ch