14 December 2009

UKA today announced tough new qualification standards for the 2010 European Championships, which will be held in Barcelona on 27 July – 1 August.

The selection policy will maintain the standards used for the recent World Championships in Berlin and anticipate the levels of performance which will be required to make the team for the World Championships in 2011 and for the London Olympics in 2012.

UKA Head Coach, Charles van Commenee said: “No-one ever jumped higher by lowering the bar. At this point in the Olympic cycle we are looking to prepare and shape contenders for London and therefore we want to use every major championship as a practise for that, applying the same principles and expecting the same level of performance. These higher standards mean those selected will be expected to make finals not simply to compete. We are looking for contenders, not pretenders.

“This year’s Commonwealth Games presents an opportunity to athletes just outside UKA’s European Championships criteria which will ensure developing athletes are given high quality competition at an international level.”

View the European Selection policy and qualification standards