To encourage research and study leading to the development of the sport of athletics, European Athletics hereby invites entries for the 2008 European Athletics Innovation Awards. The competition is open to individuals or teams of scientists, academics, students and others from European countries who wish to share their original work for the benefit of the sport. Categories Entries will be judged under the following categories: 1. Coaching – it is anticipated that entries in this category will include but not be limited to work in physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, sport medicine and training theory intended to improve the work of coaches and the performance of athletes. 2. Technology – it is anticipated that entries in this category will describe the development, testing and application of electronic and other devices intended to improve some aspect of athletics. 3. Promotion – it is anticipated that entries in this category will include but not be limited to work in sociology, marketing and education intended to increase the number of people active in any or all aspects of athletics – particularly among the target groups of women and youths. 4. Open – it is anticipated that entries in this category will include projects in any discipline or set of disciplines on topics other than those in the categories above but with the overall aim of benefiting athletics. Assessment and Awards The entries will be assessed by experts on the basis of their quality and relevance to athletics. A cash prize of 2,000 CHF will be awarded to the entry judged the best of each category. Provided they meet the minimum quality standard set by the expert judges, the category winners will advance to the final round, from which a Jury appointed by European Athletics will select an overall winner. The criteria for selection of the overall winner will be importance to the development of athletics. A cash prize of 10,000 CHF will be awarded for the winning project. The individual author or the team leader of the winning project will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony in Amsterdam in October 2008 at European Athletics’ expense. Entry Format and Requirements Entries do not need to have been previously published. However, if the work covered has already been published the date of publication must be after 1 January 2007. Entries must be electronic manuscripts of up to 15 A4 pages (11pt font, single line spaced), not including the cover page, in pdf format. Entries should include the following information: • Introduction containing: the aim, objectives and relevance of the project to the development of athletics • Methods • Findings or results • Discussion • Conclusion • Recommendations The title of the project should appear on the cover page and each page of the manuscript but there should be no identification of the author(s). Please note that the submission of a photocopied article or paper in a format other than that described above will be considered incomplete and will not be judged. Tables, figures and bibliography may be included as seperate docuement appendicies to the entry. Scientific papers or copies of published articles may be submitted as seperate document appendicies to the entry. Additional Requirements Entries must be accompanied by seperate files containing the following: • The category under which the entry is to be assessed • Name and address, phone number, fax number, e-mail of the author(s) • Curriculum Vitae, including professional and/or scientific career of the author(s) • Photograph of the author(s) • A signed guarantee that the paper is prepared solely by the named author(s) • A signed statement that European Athletics has the right to publish the entry in part or in whole Submission of Entries Entries must be sent by email and received by 31 May 2008 at following address: member.services@european-athletics.org Enquiries may be sent to the same address. Additional information, including past winners is available on www.european-athletics.org. Notification All participants will be notified by email of the projects receiving awards. Results and other information will be posted on the European Athletics website. Please note that the decisions of the expert judges and the European Athletics appointed jury will be final.