LS
Courtesy IAAF,
Regards,
Wilmar


IAAF President receives highest Hungarian award
Inauguration of the 2nd IAAF/Westel Youth Championships in Debrecen
Thursday.

9 July 2001 - Monaco - With only several days to go before the
inauguration of the second edition of the IAAF/Westel Youth
Championships, which take place in Debrecen from Thursday 12 to Sunday
15 July, the President of the Hungarian Republic, Ferenc Madl has
awarded IAAF President Lamine Diack with Hungary’s highest honour, the
“Order of the Officer Cross”. The ceremony took place on Monday
afternoon in Budapest in the solemn and historic buildings of
Parliament, in the presence of the Minister for Youth and Sport, Tamas
Deutsch, and a representative from Debrecen, the President of the Local
organising Committee Lajos Kosa.
In his brief speech of thanks, President Diack was keen to underline
Hungary ’s athletics tradition, a country that has produced many
champions thanks to the talent of its youth and a profound sporting
culture that is deeply ingrained in the hearts of the Hungarian people.
In this context, President Diack pointed out the fundamental role played
out by the public authorities and Hungarian Government, always ready to
support the organisation of important events.
The second edition of the IAAF/Westel Youth Championships is one of
these events, and for the number of countries and athletes taking part,
probably one of the biggest. There are in fact 165 National Federations
participating, sending 750 boys and 580 girls ranging in age from 15 to
17 years, for a total of 1330 athletes.
The concept of the world youth championships was approved by Congress in
Athens in 1997, proposed by the Council and former President Primo
Nebiolo. The aim of this initiative was to add solidity to the
structures in place for youth athletics offering young boys and girls
the experience of international competition capable of stimulating
ambition and reaffirming their passion for athletics.
The results achieved in Bydgoszcz (Poland) during the first edition of
the Championships in 1999 proved that this was a fructuous initiative.
Many of the 1999 winners have already become stars of the track around
the world and some even medalled at the Sydney Olympics. Those who stood
out most spectacularly include Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell (2000 Olympic
silver medal at 4x100m), Great Britain’s Mark Lewis-Francis (2001 World
Indoor Bronze medallist) in the sprints, Ladji Doucoure (FRA) and Jana
Pittman (AUS) in the hurdles, Jacques Freitag (RSA) in the high jump and
Russia’s Yelena
Isinbayeva in the pole vault.
In this second edition, in which 165 countries will take part (137 in
Bydgoszcz), many other young stars will be born to prove that there is
an extraordinary goldmine of talent throughout the five continents. The
outcome will also prove the importance of the IAAF’s involvement in
cooperation with the Member Federations, in spreading the ethical
principals of sport and the fundamental rules of training and
competition.

Program of events
Boys
100m, 200m, 400m, 800, 1500m, 3000m, Octathlon (100m, long jump, shot
put, 400m, 110m hurdles, high jump, javelin, 1000m), 110m hurdles, 400m
hurdles, 2000m steeplechase, 10km walk, medley relay (100m, 200m, 300m,
400m), high
jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put (5kg), discus
(1.5kg), hammer throw (5kg) and javelin (700g).
Girls
100m, 200m, 400m, 800, 1500m, 3000m, Heptathlon (100m hurdles, high
jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin, 800m), 100m hurdles, 400m
hurdles, 5000m walk, medley relay (100m, 200m, 300m, 400m), high jump,
pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put (4kg), discus (1kg), hammer
throw (4kg) and javelin (600g).

END