Athletics resumes in Austria

After the easing measures and current government regulations smaller meetings are now possible again. After this first phase the number of people admitted to the stadiums will gradually increase, in phase 2 from July–August, allowing for larger competitions.

There will be four top Austrian meetings during this period in St. Pölten, Eisenstadt, Vienna and Andorf. Another event is planned in Graz. Due to the Austrian Government’s intention to lift travel restrictions in the next few days international fields will again be possible at these meetings and negotiations with various athletes are already underway. A highlight is on 23 July in Amstetten – exactly one year before the opening of the Olympic Games in Tokyo – featuring a one-hour heptathlon with Austria’s world-class all-rounders.

Phase 3 is scheduled from mid-August to early October when Austrian championships are held almost every week in all disciplines and age groups.

No arrangements for middle- and long-distance runners upwards from 800m (including relays) have been confirmed. This is not possible under the current regulations – but a lot can change in the coming weeks and months. These championships were therefore scheduled as late as possible, from the end of August. The Vienna Marathon championship is scheduled later than ever before, in December, as this is when the Olympic qualification period will re-open.

All top Austrian athletes have already announced that they will contest this unusual season. Unfortunately, after the postponement of the Olympic Games in 2021 and the cancellation of the European Championships in Paris this year, athletes have no international highlight to aim for. The exception is the Half Marathon World Championships which were previously postponed to 17 October in Gdynia (POL).