4,383 athletes from 39 countries competed in the 13th European Veterans Track & Field Championships in Potsdam, Germany, from 15-25 August, 2002. 310 of these were British the second largest entry behind the host nation. France were the third largest with 199. There were several ex-Olympians competing. Heat 30-31° and high humidity affected competitors in the longer events but 6 World, 47 European and 121 Championships records were set during the nine sweltering hot days.
Chris Black broke his own M50 British, European and World hammer records with a throw of 66.92m Bob Brown cleared 3.31m in the M70 pole vault to erase the 22- year old World record. Probably the most thrilling race was the M40 400m when Welshman, Darrell Maynard and the flying Dutchman, Eric Roeske, clashed in the final. Roeske broke the 1995 world record of 48.10 to win in 47.86. The British indoor and outdoor record holder (49.0) was pleased with his new national record of 48.74.