became the first full-time General Secretary in 1995 and worked at the first European Athletics office in Frankfurt and, after April 1996, Darmstadt. A second office was also opened in London, next to the IAAF. A few years later, because of the somewhat unfavourable nature of the German tax system towards non-profit organizations, the proposal was made to merge both offices and move out of Germany. The move to Switzerland and necessary changes to Constitutional Rules were approved at the Athens Congress of 2003, and the new location opened in Lausanne (where several other sports organizations, including the IOC, were already located) on 1 January 2004. Members and Governance European Athletics' governance is split between five bodies: The Congress, which is the general assembly of the Members and the supreme authority of the European Athletic Association; The Council, with the Executive Board and its President; The Commissions; The Head Office; The European Athletics Association Court. Membership European Athletics now has 51 members, with Kosovo having joined in 2015. Each member gets one vote at the Congress. Since 2005, the European Athletic Association also has its own anthem, composed by the Armenian composer Gevorg Manasyan, which is used at the opening and closing of official events. European Athletics Council The European Athletics Council consists of: Members of the European Athletics Executive Board Executive Board members Dobromir Karamarinov, President Cherry Alexander, Vice-President (GBR) Libor Varhaník, Vice-President (CZE) Karin Grute Movin (SWE) Christian Milz, CEO Director General (ex officio). Council members The term of office for the Council is for the period from the effective date of its election to the conclusion of the next Ordinary Congress held in the year immediately preceding each Olympic Summer Games. Competitions There are four broad categories under which competitions are held: Senior : all athletes over 23 years old ; U23 : athletes aged from 20 to 22 years on 31 December of the year of the competition; U20 : athletes aged 16 to 19 years on 31 December of the year of the competition; U18 : athletes aged 16 to 17 years on 31 December of the year of the competition. European Athletics organizes several official competitions at the European level, Club competitions European Athletics also organises various club competitions, two track and field and one cross country. European Champion Clubs Cup (Senior) European Champion Clubs Cup (Junior) European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country Meetings