National relay tour event for successful Championship 2011

National relay tour event for successful Championship 2011

-Mascot Sarbi met friend, Sapsalgae-

On 4th Mar, mascot national relay tour event were held.

Sarbi, the official mascot of World Championships Daegu 2011 and Sapsalgae met the legend of Korean marathoner, Bong Ju LEE in Seoul.

Official mascot Sarbi is running with marathoner, Bong Ju LEE(right)

Sarbi will go anywhere to promote the event. Let’s see the scene.

Seoul citizens greeted with fervent praise.

Sarbi and Sapsalgae were surrounded and loved by peoples.

Official mascot was offering free hug campaign with Sapsalgae in Seoul

Sarbi met bunch of foreigners in Gwanhwamun Square.

Global Sarbi took pictures with foreign tourists.

Group picture with foreign tourists in Gwanhwamun Square

Enthusiastically promoted by exchanging high five with grandfather met on the street.

Peoples were rushing to Sarbi with a free hug sign.

Athletic Legends – Part VII, The first winner of 4 gold medals in Olympic athletic, ‘The Buckeye Bullet’ Jesse Owens

Athletic Legends – Part VII,

The first winner of 4 gold medals in Olympic athletic,
‘The Buckeye Bullet’ Jesse Owens

  

James Cleveland (Jesse) Owens was born the seventh of eleven children of a tenant farmer Owens in Oakville, Alabama on 12 September 1913. Especially black people were suffered of poverty in northern area of America in the early 20th century. Hence, these pauper peoples moved to other area known as Great Migration for 20 years from 1910 to 1930.

Family of J.C. (the abbreviation of his name in childhood) also left his hometown Alabama and moved to Cleveland, Ohio in northeastern America. In the new school teacher asked him for his name to enroll, he answered J.C. with strong American Southern accent by mistake the teacher enlisted his name as Jesse which became the name of his lifetime.

Cleveland also had to do chores after school like most other African-American children at that time. In school, coach named Charles Lilly discovered Cleveland’s qualities first as an athletic. Coach encouraged him to be an athletic at that time. J.C had great interest in running but he had to do housework after school. Therefore, coach proposed if J.C could join the training before the school, not after. That was the starting point of his life as a sprinter.

He became national figure as an athlete from high school. He set the world record 9.4 seconds in 100 yards and jumped 7.56 m at Chicago National High School Championships in 1933.

He continued being as a sprinter after entering at The Ohio State University. However, he still had to wear several hats to pay his tuition. Nonetheless, he obtained 4 crowns in two consecutive years (1935-36) at NCAA (The National Collegiate Athletic Association).

He got the world record at 9.4 seconds in 100 yards and broke world records in long jump at 8.13 m and timed at 22.6 seconds in 220 yard hurdle event in Big Ten Conference (Athletic tournament in Midwestern) which was held at Michigan State in 1935. A record achieved by J.C on that day was selected as NBC’s the most impressive performance since 1850.

However, in addition to studies and exercises, there was another ‘Discomfort’ he had to bear. At that time, he had to use for Black-Only hotels and restaurants in other states due to the rampant racism at that time.

The Berlin Olympics he participated in 1936 was exploited as Nazi propaganda to emphasize the superiority of German people and Aryan race. J.C swept gold medals in long jump, 100m, 200m and 400m relay. In particular, his outstanding record 10.02 seconds in 100 m was broken after 20 years in 1956.

After winning the four gold medals, he received an enthusiastic welcome. Even German people gathered to get his autograph. Even in the United States he didn’t have to go to hotels and restaurant for Blacks.

There were wrong speculations on his achievements in the Berlin Olympic Games such as Hitler refused to shake hands with him. He bursted out with anger as soon as award ceremony was finished. It’s not clear which is wrong or right but he said that “It was Roosevelt who insulted me not Hitler.”

In fact, he never was invited to the White House by Roosevelt or his successor, Truman despite of his remarkable achievements in athletics. At that time, even winner of American College Football was invited in white house, but it might be regarded as an insult to 4 gold medals winner.

After leaving the sport, he started to do business in various fields such as horse racing, dry cleaners, gas stations, and movies. But many of businesses he took up became unsuccessful.

He made a comeback after difficult economic times. Although he was disqualified as an athlete, he was popular enough to be an honorary ambassador in various events or a speaker. He made lots of speeches regarding fair play, clean living and patriotism.

James Cleveland died on lung cancer at Tucson, Arizona in 1980. Lots of peoples evaluated that he was born a head of time. In particular, he regarded as a figure against racism and the he proved himself that the race is nothing to do with human being’s ability or worth.

Athletic Legends - Part VI Abebe Bikila The barefoot runner

Athletic Legends - Part VI Abebe Bikila The barefoot runner

Abebe Bikila was born on Aug 7, 1932 in the village of Jato, far away from the city of Mendida, Ethiopia. In order to support his poor family, he decided to join the Imperial Bodyguard in the capital city, Addis Ababa.

Haile Selassie I, an emperor of Ethiopia was interested in modernization and made constant efforts to enhance national prestige through sports. Onni Niskanen, a Finnish-born Swede, was hired by the government to train potential athletes. It didn’t took too long for Niskanen to spot the remarkable athlete Bikila from the lines.

He was added to the Ethiopian Olympic team as a replacement for Wami Biratu, who had broken his ankle in a soccer match, just before the plane to Rome was about to takeoff.

Abebe is known as a barefoot runner but it was not deliberate intention of him.

The official shoe sponsor Adidas provided shoes for Abebe but they didn’t fit comfortably for him. Abebe decided to run barefoot few hours before the race. Surprisingly, the marathon winner of Rome Olympic Games in 1960 was barefoot Abebe Bikila.

Abebe won the Marathon in a record time of 2:15:16.2 and als becoming the first black African to win an Olympic gold medal. Here’s quotation for the reason of barefoot. “I wanted the world to know my country, Ethiopia, has always won with determination and heroism.”

Abebe the first African winner became a celebrity and participated main marathon race in the world and won most of them. The only race he didn’t win the gold medal was the 5th Boston Marathon in 1963, he and ranked 5th place.

He set a goal for the winning of next Olympic in Tokyo 1964. But he was diagnosed with acute appendicitis 6 weeks prior to the event. There was not enough time for him to recover and join the Marathon.

After all he flew to Tokyo, but no one expected he’ll to participate but he finished the marathon in a new world record time of 2h 12m 11s.

He was the first athlete in the history to win the Olympic marathon twice. Once again he joined the next marathon in Mexico 1968. Before the Marathon he broke a small bone in his foot. Ignoring the injury in his foot he had to give up. The injury was too serious. He watched his old friend Mamo Wolde win the gold medal even though he didn’t make 3 year consecutive winning.

In the late 1968, the world was not stable and peaceful due to continuous protests in U.S and Europe. Political and military conflicts had not ceased in African continent where his country Ethiopia was.

One day in 1969, he had a car accident trying to avoid protesters in the road and became paraplegic due to the accident. It was shocking to him, but he was positive enough to overcome the injury.

He made a jokes for the concerning people that he’ll win the gold in a wheelchair next Olympics.

Actually, he didn’t participate in the 1972 Olympics, but he attempted to transform into archery saying that he still got two hands.

On the 23 Oct 1973, he died on a cerebral hemorrhage all of sudden. His funeral in Addis Ababa, attended nearly 75,000. Emperor proclaimed a national day of mourning. After his death, numerous awards, school and stadium named after him.

[Athletic Legends – Part V] "Birds fly, fish swim, humans run”: the Czech Locomotive, Emil Zatopek

Athletic Legends – Part V,

- “Birds fly, fish swim, humans run”: the Czech Locomotive, Emil Zatopek

The mid-20th century was a hectic time of the world's history. At that time, there was nearly not a peaceful day during the two times World War and Cold War caused by ideological conflicts. Emil Zatopek was at that time a hero athletic who lived in the age of turbulence.

He was born in Koprivnice, Czechoslovakia on 19 Sep, 1922 as the sixth child of carpenter father. Due to the difficult family circumstances, he had to work in a shoe factory at the age of 16. When he was 18 years old, shoe factory owner ordered his workers to participate in cross-country competition held at the nearby factory. Emil Zatopek was chosen as one of athletes.

Emil was very keen to win the 100 meter run but ended as a second position of that time. After that second place winning, he began to take a serious interest in running. His personality was quiet and calm but he had a high competitive spirit that became the basis of his accomplishments later.

Only four years later, in 1944, he broke the Czech records for 2,000, 3,000, and 5,000 m. After the records he was selected to the Czech national team for the 1946 European Championships. In the championships he finished fifth position in the 5,000m event.

After 2 years, Emil participated the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. In Olympics he won the 10,000 m event and came second in the 5,000 event.

Zatopek was at his best on the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in 5,000m, 10,000m and the marathon. Especially the Marathon event was a surprise for people because he decided to participate in the marathon just before the start. As this is not enough, his wife Dana Zatopek won the gold in the javelin throw at the same Olympic Games.

Zatopek tried to defend his first place in the 1956 Summer Olympics marathon in Melbourne. However he suffered a groin injury and was hospitalized for six weeks, finishing sixth in final and retired from competition in 1957.

His homeland, Czechoslovakia had history with many twist and turns. Czech greeted the golden age in the Kingdom of medieval and also was the centre of Holy Roman Empire but till the end became colony of the Austrian Empire from late 19th century to early 20th century. Czech achieved independence in 1918 through fierce independent movement. But lost the territory for Germany and was occupied by Germany during World War II.

After World War II, communist government ruled the country and transformed into socialist state through bloodless coup carried out by Communist Party.

In Czechoslovakia, Zatopek was served as a national hero even though he was retired.

Like most of the dictatorial political system, there was a frequent conflict and crash between government’s control and people’s demands for Czech liberalization. There were lots of communist in the Party who opposed to the iron ruling system. Zatopek was one of them.

In 1968, there was reform called “Prague Spring” which included an independent of trial, parliamentary system, the abolition of prior censorship, democratic elections, freedom of speech, freedom of publishing, foreign travel and the freedom of movement. But the 'Prague Spring' was cruelly taken by the Soviet Union’s invasion. On 20 Aug 1968, 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 2,000 tanks invaded Prague and by the morning of 21 Aug Czech was occupied.

Zatopek supported the party’s democratic wing and after the Prague Spring, he was removed from all important positions and forced to work in a uranium mine as punishment. Afterwards 1972 he was invited Munich Summer Olympics.

Although he was under strict surveillance by authorities, his neighborhood still treated him as a hero. While he was forced to work hard, groceries just secretly piled up in his house.

He was rehabilitated in 1990 after the communist regime stepped down. However, he suffered a disease caused by unknown virus which caused heart troubles for 10 years.

On 27 Nov, 2000, Czech authorities gave funeral with state honors for quadruple Olympic gold medalist Emil Zatopek, who died at nearly the age of 78.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch and International Amateur Athletic Federation President Lamine Diack attended the ceremony for the greatest Czech athlete of all time.

"This is a sad day not only for sports people, who saw embodied in Zatopek all the virtues of a champion, but also for the common people who recognized in Zatopek an honest and intransigent defender of the fundamental principles of dignity and freedom of the individual".

                                                                                              -Lamine Diack in a statement

Daegu 2011 D-100 Countdown Event at Daegu Stadium

The Daegu 2011 D-100 Countdown concert will be held on May. 19 from 7:10 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. at Daegu Stadium.
The concert will be aired live on KBS Korea for one hour and thirty minutes.

Participants will be received on a first-come first-serve basis. 
Members of the cast >> 
CHO YOUNG NAM, Insooni, Maya, Kim Tae Woo, Eru, ZE:A, RAINBOW, INFINITE, SISTAR,  Huhgak 

Kyung Won, NA visited LOC - The IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011

On 8th Mar 4pm, Kyung Won NA, assembly member of Grand National Party visited the LOC (Local Organizing Committee) to check the event preparation and encourage the organizing committee.

She had a talk with president of LOC, Bum-Il KIM, vice-president, Dong-Hoo MOON and other officials of the LOC.

Congresswoman, Na and LOC officials had exchanged compliments.

President, Bum Il KIM is wearing badge on Mrs. Na personally.

She listened courteously the briefing on World Championships Daegu 2011 and expressed big expectations on the event. Her visit encouraged all members on the LOC.

Hidden Worker of Track and Field, Athletic Referees

The fair judgment in sports events and the role of referees who make decision are very important.

Today, I would like to introduce the referee’s jobs. Referees are often considered as a very strict due to their nature of the job. They are not just sitting back and watching athletes' performance. Judges are preparing facilities personally and checking the stadium carefully before the event starts, for making accurate decision and judgments. That is their most important and sacred assignments.

In general, the appearance of judges are mostly standing and monitoring the events 

happening. Referees have to notice all risks such as wind or other natural disaster in order to watch the event personally. Other cardinal principle in refereeing is to keep their best place to watch the event. Therefore, throwing is the most dangerous athletic event for referees. The most important thing to referee is making ‘correct decision’.

All referees for the IAAF World Championships 2011 Daegu will be domestic. The IAAF will supervise referees but all operation will be done in Korea. We are looking forward to see a clean and fair judgments’ in 2011 IAAF Championships.