European Country Music Association general level, covering all of Europe. The objectives of the organization are to help promote country music in this continent and help as much as it can the value of the European artists and record labels; also to provide a proof of real airplay to the country music industry through its weekly national and pan-European charts. Its national Top-20 covers weekly Spain, France, Belgium, Holland, UK, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, Swizertland, Malta, Poland and Austria. ECMA membership is composed of those persons or organizations that are involved in country music throughout the world, having members in
2010 European Cross Country Championships record number of 34 nations competed at the event. The race took place on a purpose-built course near the city, which also hosts the annual Almond Blossom Cross Country. Albufeira was chosen as the host at the 120th European Athletics Council Meeting in October 2008, defeating a rival bid from Velenje (which was chosen for the 2011 edition instead). Hayley Yelling entered the race as the defending women's champion while Alemayehu Bezabeh, the reigning men's champion, did not take part in the competition. High-profile investigations into doping in Spain immediately preceded the championships and Bezabeh was among the athletes implicated