Well, hello sports fans! In less than twelve hours, I will be packing, and venturing into the cold abyss that is lovely Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Driving to Janesville, in new snow and windy weather will be the work of friend Miles, but then, I will read the paper and nap for two plus hours on a bus to Chicago’s O’Hare. After a few hours of writing, I will fly on those wonderful German airships owned by Lufthansa, to Frankfurt. From Frankfurt, I will grab a shower, change clothes and then jump on an early flight to Goteborg, Sweden. Sleep deprived, I will venture to the first press conference of the event. Main-lining espresso, I will provide for you, dear readers, a view of the city of Goteborg that, will be, to say the least, unique.

Palais des sports, Bercy, Paris, France, 2011 Euro Indoors,

photo from Larry Eder

I absolutely enjoyed the Euro Indoors in 2011 in Bercy, near Paris. The meet was great, the fans were fanatical, and there were some great performances! Goteborg should be fun in its own way.

My last time in Goteborg, Sweden for the World Championships in 1995. Being the curious sort, I accepted an invitation by some locals to go to a rave. I remember also, meeting a hedgehog on my walk along a river one evening. My last memory of that evening, was hearing a song by the Philly band, the Hooters, and I woke up in my media seat in the stadium the next day, waking up in time to watch Micheal Johnson win his 400 meters heat.

Those memories are somewhat lost in the midst of my current activities, but I am sure that Goteborg 2013 will provide some adventures, and, of course, some stories with which to while away the evenings upon my return to southwest Wisconsin. Listen close, dear friends.

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LESS ATHLETES, MORE COUNTRIES

GOTEBORG (SWE): A total of 578 athletes from 47 countries have entered for the 32nd European Athletics Indoor Championships to be held in GÃ¶teborg this week. Last edition in Paris had at this stage more athletes 630 but less countries 45. The final entries list includes 320 starters in the men’s events and 258 in the women’s events (Paris 346 men and 284 women). The biggest number in men events in 60 m hurdles 33 and from women events also the hurdles with 25. The highest number in technical events for high jump and shot put men 27 and high jump, pole vault and triple women 21. The lowest number of entries in men triple 23 and women 800 m and shot put 17. Interestingly men 60 m is having only 24 entries, in Paris 38.

ONE CHANGE IN RELAYS

RELAYS: In the final confirmation only one change. For men relay Germany will be replaced by Czech Republic. Also in the race Great Britain, Russia, Belgium, Poland and Sweden. In women competition Russia, Ukraine, Great Britain, France, Czech Republic and Sweden. Except of home teams also Russia, Great Britain and Czech Republic are having teams in both relays.

MORE ATHLETES FROM 2013 SITUATION

COMBINED EVENTS: In total 15 athletes will compete in both men heptathlon and women pentathlon. Majority based on 2013 indoor performance. In heptathlon from 2012 Dutch Eelco Sintnicolaas, French Kevin Mayer, Russian Ilya Shkurenyov and Serbian Mihail Dudas. The rest from 2013 lists Czech Adam Sebastian Helcelet, Estonian duo Mikk Pahapill and Kaarel Joevali, second Russian Artem Lukyanenko, second French Jeremy Lelievre, Austrian Dominik Distelberger, Tiago Marto from Portugal, second Dutch Pelle Rietveld, Attila Szabo from Hungary. Sweden will have two athletes, automatically the best Petter Olsson and second based on latest results Fabian Rosenquist. In women pentathlon from 2012 list invited are French Antoinette Nana Djimou, Russian Yekaterina Bolshova, Latvian Laura Ikauniece, Ukrainian Hanna Melnychenko and German Julia Machtig. Rest comes from 2013. Yana Maksimava and Katsiaryna Netsviatayeva of Belarus, second Ukrainian Alina Fyodorova, Belgian Nafissatou Thiam, Dutch duo Remona Fransen and Nadine Broersen, RomaniaÂ´s Beatrice Puiu, Swiss Ellen Sprunger and home duo Sofia Linde with Ellinore Hallin.

JUST TWO MISSING

LIST LEADERS: All European men indoor list leaders 2013 are entered for Goteborg. That is a unique situation. The only small addition is that the Irish 1500 m leader Ciaran OÂ´Lionaird is not running the middle distance but the 3000 m. On the women side two Russian list leaders are not included Svetlana Kireyeva for the 3000 m and Yekaterina Kupina in the 800 m (she did not qualify, out in heats at the national championships).

10 DEFENDERS COMPETING

TITLE DEFENDERS: In total 4 men and 6 women will compete in Goteborg as title defenders from Paris 2011. Adam Kszczot in the 800 m, Renaud Lavillenie in pole vault, Sebastian Bayer in long jump and Ralf Bartels in the shot put. In the women events more gold medalists from Bercy are entered. Denisa Rosolova (400 m), Jenny Meadows (800 m), Anna Rogowska (pole vault), Darya Klishina (long jump), Simona La Mantia (triple jump), Antoinette Nana Djimou (pentathlon). Also to mention the Russian women 4×400 m team. From this group Lavillenie and Bayer also won in 2009. More Torino 2009 winners competing are Dwain Chambers for 60 m, Mikk Pahapill heptathlon, Eline Berings 60 m hurdles. Winners of older editions are Tia Hellebaut high jump in 2007 and Juan Carlos Higuero also 2007 in the 1500 m (now he is intered in the 3000 m). Very special the entry of Stanislav Oljars of Latvia at 60 m hurdles who is the winner from 2000 in Gent.

INFORMATIONS FROM TEAMS

GERMANY: Sends 28 athletes with top medal hopes list leader Christina Schwanitz for shot put, Bjorn Otto in pole vault, long jumpers Christian Beyer and title defender Sebastian Bayer with fast sprinters Verena Sailer with Julian Reus. The invitation for men 4×400 m based on 2012 lists will not be used. The team – men: 60 m: Reus, 1500 m: Orth, 60mH: Balnuweit, Traber, Buhler, HJ: Haverney, PV: Otto, Holdzeppe, Mohr, LJ: Reif, Bayer, SP: Bartels, Schmidt. Women – 70 m: Sailer, Pinto, 1500 m: E
. Sujew, D. Sujew, 3000 m: Harrer, 60mH: Hildebrand, PV: Gadschiew, Bauer, LJ: Bauschke, Voss, TJ: Elbe, SP: SChwanitz, Terlecki, Craft, pent: MÃ¤chtig.

CZECH REPUBLIC: The men team was invited for the 4×400 m relay. That means into the selection were added two 400 m runners Daniel Nemecek and Petr Lichy. With already selected for individual race Pavel Maslak and Josef Prorok they will compete in the relay. In total, the team has now 21 athletes. Alternate for the relay is 800 m runner Jan Kubista.

PORTUGAL: 12 athletes, seven men and five women from Portugal. Sara Moreira for the 3000 m is the biggest medal hope. Men – 60 m: Antunes, Monteiro, 1500 m: H. Gomes, 60mH: Dabo, PV: Maia, SP: Fortes, hept: Marto. Women – 3000 m: Moreira, Machado, 60mH: Vital, TJ: Costa, Mamona.

TURKEY: Solid team of 13 athletes (8 men and 5 women) with Ilham Tanui Ozbilen for 1500 m and Polan Arikat Kemboi for 3000 m on the men side and Nevin Yanit at 60 m hurdles on the women side as top medal hopes. Men – 400 m: Can, 800 m: Kilic, Tuna, 1500 m: Ozbilen, 3000 m: Akkas, Kemboi, HJ: Birinci, SP: Atici. Women – 60 m: Gurcan, 400 m: Yildirim, 3000 m: Karakaya, 60mH: Yanit, LJ and TJ: Serbest.

HUNGARY: 6 men and only 1 women from Hungary. In top shape is the hurdler Balazs Baji. Other team members – 800 m: Kazi, 3000 m: Bene, Minczer, LJ: M. Szabo, hept: A. Szabo. The only women is shot putter Anita Marton.

SLOVAKIA: One of the biggest teams for Slovakia with 11 athletes, to 6 with standards federation also selected 5 without standard who will pay for the costs. This costs will be returned in case the athletes ends in top 12 or achieves the results at the federation entry standard level. Men – 60 m: Zavacky, 800 m: Repcik, 1500 m: Pelikan, 60 mH: Papso, HJ: Kabelka, Bubenik, Horak. Women – 800 m: Habovstiakova, LJ: J. Veldakova, Medgyesova, TJ: D. Veldakova.

BULGARIA: After Balkan Champs Bulgaria confirmed 13 athletes, as usual more women (8) than men (5). Sprinters Iveta Lalova and Tezdzhan Naimova (fast windy times in South Africa) are the top names. High in the lists also shot putter Georgi Ivanov. Also in the team – 800 m: Kolarova, 1500 m: Danekova, HJ: Veneva, Demireva, TJ: Dodova, SP: Mavrodieva. Men – HJ: Ninov, LJ: Dobrev, TJ: Z. Atanasov, Tsonov, SP: Ivanov.

SERBIA: Long jumper Ivan Spanovic, shot putter Asmir Kolasinac, Goran Nava for 1500 m and invited Mihail Dudas for the heptathlon are the four selected athletes from Serbia.

AUSTRIA: Five men will be representing, no women as hurdler Beate Schrott did not chang her mind despite clocking sub 8 national record. 800 m: Franzmair, Rapatz, 1500 m: Vojta, SP: Weisshaidinger, hept: Distelberger.

GREECE: 12 athletes from Greece, 8 men and 4 women. Pole vaulter Kostadinos FilippÃdis is the top hope. Also good chances for 810+ long jump duo. 1500 m: Dimitrakis, 60mH: Douvalidis, HJ: Baniotis, Mastoras, PV: Filippidis, LJ: Tsakonas, Tsatoumas, TJ: Tsiamis. Women – PV: Kiriakopoulou, Stefanidi, Ledaki, TJ: Panetta.

CYPRUS: Cyprus has entered four athletes: Men – 60 m: Trajikovic, PV: Stylianou (improved on Saturday in Thessaloniki, Greece his national record to 540), women – 60 m: Papaioannou, TJ: Serbezova.

SLOVENIA: In total 7 athletes here, four men and three women. Also pole vaulter Tina Sutej achieved the necessary standard but will remain in USA for her studies. Men – 800 m: Rudolf, 1500 m: Krevs, PV: Renner, Poljanec. Women – 1500 m: Mismas, 60mH: Tomic, TJ: Bratkic.

FINLAND: In total only 11 athletes from Finland (5 men and 6 women). The team – men – 60 m: Hongisto, HJ: Torro, PV: Salomaki, LJ: Evila, Haapala. Women – 60 m: Latvala, 400 m: Rasanen, 60mH: Harala, Leinone, Neziri, PV: Nikkanen.

BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA: Entered two athletes, both for men shot put Kemal Mesic and Hamza Alic.

ITALY: The teams is one athlete less. Olympic medalist in the triple jump Fabrizio Donato will not be able to travel. Not only due to his right thigh problem but also recently a flu makes it impossible for him. The number of athletes from Italy is so reduced to 43 (23 men and 20 women).

POLAND: European 2010 Champion Marcin Lewandowski decided to compete in his new event the 1500 m in Goteborg. But he says he still wants to remain with 800 m in the summer.

FRANCE: From steeple camp Bob Tahri decided not to travel to Goteborg, his rival Mahiedine Mekhissi selected the 1500 m as his event for Goteborg.

BELGIUM: Niels Duerinck selected for the Belgian relay stopped with athletics and will not travel. He completed architecture studies and wants to work in that field. With injured Jacques Borlee, for the Belgians remaining to run are Kevin BorlÃ©e, Antoine Gillet, Arnaud Ghislain and young Tim Rummens.

UKRAINE: In Ukrainian team two changes: Anzhelika Shevchenko selected for the 1500 m will not go to Goteborg as well as Serhiy Sahutkin for men 60m. Decathletes Oleksiy Kasyanov will compete not only in long jump but also in 60 m hurdles.

BELARUS: Added into Belarus initial team Maksim Lynsha for 60 m hurdles and Kseniya Detsuk for triple jump. On the other side out are 3000 m runner Siarhei Platonau (injured) and Eduard Mikhan (heptathlon).

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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