Around 380 athletes (64 teams) from 23 countries in four different continents are taking part in this week’s international world cross-country championships in Malta.
The sporting and cultural event includes the Technical meeting being held tomorrow, the races on Tuesday, a tour of Mdina and Valletta on Wednesday and a friendship relay (fun event) including a tour around Vittoriosa on Thursday.
Malta is also taking part in the event with two teams - boys and girls. The boys team consists of Kurt Dalli, Samuel Attard, Andrea Caruana, Benji Salerno and Thomas Farrugia. The girls team comprises Francesca Borg, Clarissa Cremona, Brenda Borg, Nicole Gatt, Carla Micallef and Ylenia Pace. Their coach is Mario Micallef.
Addressing a news conference yesterday morning, Norbert Kever, the ISF delegate for these championships, said his organisation was happy to be back in Malta after having staged successfully the table-tennis and swimming championships in the past.
He added he was sure that it will be a successful event with some good running as the athletes will put heart and spirit into it.
Although the number of participants is not a record, it is most satisfying that there are 23 countries represented this year. He added that the record was that of 28 countries and 74 teams.
Jaroslav Koukal, member of the ISF’s cross-country commission went on to say that this 20th edition will see Croatia taking part for the first time ever, while for an athlete from the Netherlands, this will be his 20th participation. This means that this athlete has been running this race for the past 40 years as the event is held every two years.
He said they were looking forward to a successful event both on and off the course.
Edwin Attard, representing the MAAA which is sanctioning the event, said the course was spread over the facilities of several associations practising their sport at the Marsa Sports grounds. These include, the Marsa Sports Club itself, the grass areas used for archery, rugby and baseball and the athletics track.
The course is about 1.5km long. The boys will go around it three times, while the girls will have two laps to cover.
Attard said the course was flat and they envisaged that it could lead to some fast times on a perfect day for running.
David Azzopardi, head of the Organising Committee, said it was great to have been successful in bidding for these championships to be held for the first time in Malta.
He added that Malta was proud to be organising such a big event with the participation of such a big number of athletes. “Despite the limitations in our size and space, we have managed to find a course which is quite suitable, at the Marsa sports grounds.
Azzopardi said the event originated in Luxembourg in 1975 and, since, then, it has been held regularly every two years.
The International School Sports Federation (ISF) has representatives in different countries.
It organises international competitions in different sporting disciplines, including team events in football, handball, basketball and volleyball, and encourages contests between school students with a view to promoting better mutual understanding.
It seeks close collaboration with the school authorities of member countries, with the international sports federations concerned, and with international organisations having similar aims.
The activities are, however, restricted to the secondary school sector, addressing pupils from 14 to 17 years of age.
Azzopardi said that every registered team comprises six participants, but only the four best runners will score for the ranking.
Individual medals will be presented for the first three placed athletes in each category, as well as the first, second and third team in each category. Trophies will also be presented to the winning team in each category. A certificate of participation is to be presented to all competitors.
The ISF Fair Play trophy will be awarded to a delegation by the Disciplinary Commission following consultation with the ISF technical committee, the delegations and the Organising Committee.