by Maria Pia Beltran, AIPS Media
BERLIN, August 10, 2018 – Fourteen veteran European athletics Journalists from fourteen different countries were celebrated in Berlin during the European Athletics Championships. At the Zoological Gardens in Berlin, our colleagues, the top authorities in athletics on the continent, were guests of honor at the European Athletics LOC Official Lunch, where they were joined by European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen, President of the Organising Committee Berlin 2018 Clemens Prokop, German Athletics Association President Jurgen Kessin, the Governing Mayor of Berlin Michael Muller and AIPS President Gianni Merlo.
“This appointment has become a kind of tradition and we have gone from six to 14 journalists to be recognized from our last event at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam,” AIPS President Gianni Merlo said. “To follow sport on the international level for so many years requires dedication and sacrifice but the best example these veteran colleagues can give to the younger generation is the passion they still have in studying and preparing themselves to cover athletics, searching for new stories and bringing new characters and names closer to the public.”
“Of course it’s an honor for us to go up on the stage to receive this recognition. I started when I was 20 years old and I have been specialized in athletics since then,” Josè Luis Lopez of Spain’s Cadena SER Radio Station said. “This year I was hoping that Hortelano could get the golden medal in the 200 meters because he is really an inspiring athlete and his story was very tough – with him being back on the track after a very serious car accident.”
“Having the possibility to meet our international colleagues in a friendly environment during these European championships is a great value,” retired Swiss colleague Peter Frei, formerly of Swiss agency SDA said. “I believe AIPS is doing a great service for our profession, we have to stay united and cooperate as much as possible to keep on growing.”
Below is the full list of veteran journalists awarded:
Peter Frei
Media: SDA Sport information
Country: Switzerland
European Athletics Championships: 15
Manfred Steffny
Media: SPIRIDON-Laufmagazin
Country: Germany
European Athletics Championships: 12
Olaf Brockmann
Media: Kronen Zeitung
Country: Austria
European Athletics Championships: 12
Franco Fava
Media: Corriere dello Sport
Country: Italy
European Athletics Championships: 12
Jean-Pierre Durand
Media: JPD Photosport
Country: France
European Athletics Championships: 11
Drbohlav Vladimir
Media: Ceska Televize
Country: Czech Republic
European Athletics Championships: 11
Mats Wennerholm
Media: Aftonbladet Newspaper
Country: Sweden
European Athletics Championships: 11
Philippe Vande Weyer
Media: Le Soir, Brussels
Country: Belgium
European Athletics Championships: 10
Jose Luis Lopez
Media: SER Radio station
Country: Spain
European Athletics Championships: 10
Andrej Stare
Media: Slovenian Television (RTVSLO)
Country: Slovenia
European Athletics Championships: 10
Tapio Nevalainen
Media: Finnish News Agency
Country: Finland
European Athletics Championships: 10
Ed Gordon
Media: International Sport Data
Country: USA
European Athletiscs Championships: 10
Ernest Friedbert Raulf
Media: freelance
Country: Germany
European Athletics Championships: 10
Karolos Sargologos
Media: PSAT
Country: Greece
European Athletics Championships: 10
