Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, 2011 Compeed Golden Gala, Roma, by PhotoRun.net

The cost, not only in dollars, but in national energy, to host an Olympic Games, is huge. Recently, the Italian government recently refused to support the Italian Olympic committee bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Citing uncertain economic times, the Italian PM, Mario Monte, refused to provide the government support in order for the Applicant city files to be completed. Per insidethegames.biz, Mario Pescante, the long time former Italian sports minister, found the government decision embarrassing, and resigned as a VP on the International Olympic Committee.   

This opens the 2020 Olympic Games race…more details to come, probably after the World Indoors in Instanbul, Turkey, mid March….

KENYA
WITH 9 RUNNERS

NAIROBI
(KEN): Kenya selected 9 runners for World Indoor Championships. Olympic winner
Pamela Jelimo will compete in the 800 m, Sylvia Kibet and Helen Obiri in the
3000 m on the women side. In the men events Boaz Lalang with junior Timothy
Kitum in the 800 m, mile world leader Silas Kiplagat and Bethwel Birgen in the
1500 m and another strong duo Augustine Choge with Edwin Soi in the 3000 m.

UKRAINE
WITH TOP COMBINED EVENTERS

KYIV
(UKR): Ukraine selected 27 athletes for Istanbul. Strong are combined eventers
Oleksiy Kasyanov for heptathlon and Natalya Dobrynska with Hanna Melnychenko
for pentathlon. In total 18 women, also in the 3000 m European leader Svitlana
Shmidt with Natalya Tobias, in the 1500 m national record holder Anzhelika
Shevchenko, 800 m runner Natalya Lupu is also included. Natalya Pigida runs the
400 m and Viktoriya Pyatachenko the 60 m. The top ones Olesya Povkh and Mariya
Ryemyen did not plan for World Indoors. Remaining women are Oksana Okuneva in
the high jump, talented junior Ganna Shelekh for pole vault, Inna Akkhozova for
long jump, Ganna Knyazeva and Ruslana Tsikhotska for triple jump and Galina
Obleshchuk for shot put. On the men side in the team Oleksandr Borisyuk at 1500
m, Andriy Protsenko in the high jump and European U23 Champion Sheryf El-Sheryf
for triple jump. Both 4×400 m relays will be also entered (women: Bryzgina,
Zemlyak, Pristupa, Olyshevska with Pigida and men: Hutsol, Butrim, Knysh,
Byrakov and Bikulov). Also still having chance in case fulfilling the standard
until Monday high jumpers Olena Kholosha and Viktor Shapoval and pole vaulters
Maksim Mazuryk with Denis Yurchenko.

SHABANOV
AND BORISOV IN A TIE

MOSCOW
(RUS, Feb 22): Russian Indoor Championships started in CSKA Hall with a tie
in the men´s 60 m hurdles. Improved Konstantin Shabanov and Yevgeniy Borisov
clocked 7.64 to get both the gold medal. Shabanov achieved faster 7.59 in the
semis. The same situation happened last year as both tied with 7.63. Also close
60 m final, winner Aleksandr Brednev and second Mikhail Idrisov achieved
identical 6.72. Yegor Nikolayev was the clear 3000 m winner in 7:53.93. In
women finals Yekaterina Galitskaya improved to 8.04 to win the 60 m hurdles
ahead of Svetlana Topilina 8.08. Faster in semis was heptathlon world champion
Tatyana Chernova with big PB 8.02 and a non-finish in the finals. She
showed top shape with best mark in the long jump qualification (661 cm). In
absence of Yelena Isinbaeva and Svetlana Feofanova, the pole vault title went
to Anastasiya Savchenko (452) beating Aleksandra Kiryashova (442). Top three
got sub 9 minutes in the 3000 m, Yuliya Vasilyeva 8:53.02 over Kristina
Khaleyeva 8:57.37 and Olga Golovkina 8:57.52. European U23 2011 relay champion
Yekaterina Filatova was the best in the 60 m in 7.29 (and 7.25 PB in
semifinals). Former European indoor champion Yevgeniya Polyakova scratched from
the finals. From heats to report European leading time in women´s 800 m by
Marina Pospelova 1:59.45 (her first sub 2 ever) ahead of Yelena Kofanova
1:59.63. Eliminated European U23 Champion Yelena Arzhakova (2:01.04).
Aleksandra Fedoriva was the fastest in women 400 m heats with 51.80. Fastest
men in heats Pavel Trenikhin at 400 m (46.80) and Ivan Nesterov at 800 m
(1:48.32).

DOUVALIDIS
7.63 NR

PIRAEUS
(GRE, Feb 21-22):During the first day of the Greek Indoor Championships
Dimítrios Hondrokoúkis achieved the standard for Istanbul by clearing 229,
equaling so his indoor pb. Konstadínos Baniótis, competing as guest, also
jumped 229. Both athletes failed three times at 231. Loúis Tsátoumas improved
his season best by 1 cm, winning the long jump in 805. Yeóryios Tsákonas
followed with 800, an indoor best. His brother Likoúrgos-Stéfanos won the 60m
with a 6.74 personal best. Mihaíl Stamatóyiannis posted another season
best with a last round 19.70 in the shot put. In the absence of Nikoléta
Kiriakopoúlou, Stélla-Iró Ledáki claimed victory in the pole vault with 410.
During second day Kostas Douvalidis improved his own 60 m hurdles national
record by 0.01 to 7.63. Triple jumper Niki Paneta bettered her indoor PB to
Istanbul standard 14.47. Kostas Filippidis won as expected the pole vault, this
time with 570 and tried at new national record height of 580. Eleni Filandra
came close to her 800 m national mark with 2:02.62 win.

KENENISA
IN GOOD TRAINING

NIJMEGEN
(NED): Ethiopian long distance star Kenenisa Bekele is healthy and in good
preparation for summer. Confirms his agent Jos Hermens. There are no details
known yet, but he plans to compete during the track season before Olympic Games.
Some reports informed about possibilities that Bekele would train in Oregon
with Alberto Salazar. „It is not a real possibility, because Kenenisa with
whom I have not discussed the issue, would not move to USA. But it is true
I discussed with the coach a bit about training and this also came
up. But was very quick a non item,” says Hermens.

RICHARDSON
CHANGES MANAGEMENT

JOHNSON
CITY (USA): Daegu 110 m hurdles world champion Jason Richardson switched his
management company. He is now represented by Total Sports US headed by Chris
Layne. Richardson passed the indoor season in order to be ready for the summer.

EATON
IN TWO EVENTS

ALBUQUERQUE
(USA): The USATF Championships over the weekend at high altitude will be the
selection meet for World Indoor Championships in Istanbul. Highlights could be
expected on the women side from world champion Jenny Simpson (is entered in
both 1500 m and 3000 m) and Tianna Madison whop is the 60 m favorite as current
world leader. In technical events the leaders Chaunte Lowe in the high jump
(also declared for long jump), Jenn Suhr in the pole vault and Jill
Camarena-Williams in the shot put. Great battle could be expected as last year
in women long jump with world champion Brittney Reese, Janay DeLoach and Funmi
Jimoh. Kristi Castlin and Yvette Lewis are looking for the two spots in the 60
m hurdles. Natasha Hastings looks to be the top favorite in women 400 m. In the
men events world champions competing Jesse Williams in the high jump, Christian
Taylor in the triple jump (against Will Claye who is also long jump favorite)
and former world winner Brad Walker in the pole vault. Traditional shot put
battle is expected, for two places four top names: Christian Cantwell, Reese
Hoffa, Ryan Whiting and Adam Nelson. Hurdles duel of David Oliver and Terrence
Trammell at 60 m hurdles could be marred by improving hurdlers from the second
row. World medalist Matt Centrowitz is entered into the 1500 m and Galen Rupp
into both 1500 and 3000 m. Gil Roberts, Frankie Wright and Calvin Smith jr. are
the 400 m favorites. Interesting to see here the 500 m improvement from last
weekend Brycen Spreatling. In the 60 m Trell Kimmons and Justin Gatlin are the
options for Turkey. Heptathlon world record holder Ashton Eaton is entered into
60 m hurdles and long jump.

SHOBUKHOVA
TO START HER SEASON IN US

NEW
YORK/CHICAGO (USA): Two-time World Marathon Majors series champion and
three-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon winner Liliya Shobukhova of Russia
will open her 2012 season at the NYC Half on Sunday, March 18, followed with a run
at the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago on Sunday, March 25, it
was jointly announced by NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg and Bank of
America Chicago Marathon and Shamrock Shuffle 8K Executive Race Director Carey
Pinkowski. Shobukhova an favorite for the Olympic Games Marathon in London this
summer said of her spring trip to the U.S., „This Olympic year will be the most
important of my career, so I am choosing all of my competitions carefully.
The NYC Half will allow me to test my fitness and compete against some of the
same runners I will face in the Olympic Marathon, while going to Chicago
for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K will allow me to connect with all
of the great fans and runners there on a course that feels like home to me
in the city where I have had so much success. It’s the perfect trip.”

OTHER NEWS

KARLSRUHE
(GER): Long jumper Bianca Kappler will not compete at weekend´s German
championships due to flu, pole vaulter Carolin Hingst due to achilles injury.

TOKIO
(JPN): European marathon champion Viktor Rothlin arrived to Tokio for Sunday´s
Marathon in good mood. In 2008 he achieved here course record and Swiss record
2:07:23. „Training in last weeks was according to my plan, also the half
marathon test in Granollers was a confirmation of good preparation. I want
to attack a result which will be at level of my top 3 marks (that means
sub 2:10),” says Rothlin.

ROME
(ITA): Mario Pescante has resigned as vice-president of the International
Olympic Committee (IOC), claiming that he feels „embarrassed” after the Italian
Government refused to back Rome’s bid to host the 2020 Olympics and
Paralympics. The 73-year-old former Italian Sports Minister is one of the most
influential and respected members of the IOC and had been the biggest advocate
of Rome’s campaign, which he was leading as President. But the bid was killed
by Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti last week when, because of the economy
crisis currently engulfing the country, he refused to give the Government
guarantees necessary for the capital to be able to complete its Applicant City
file. Informs insidethegames.

KINGSTON
(JAM): The inaugural Howard Aris Memorial/ Gibson Relays Lecture, hosted by the
Organizing Committee of the 36th Gibson Relays, is scheduled for the G C Foster
College on Thursday. The Lecture will be of particular interest to athletic
coaches, trainers, sports writers, sports commentators, mass communications
students, dieticians, nutritionists, practising athletes, and all persons
interested in fitness and nutrition, both professionally and for recreation.
The Journalism segment will be conduced by one of television’s foremost track
and field analyst, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster with ESPN and ESPN2 Larry
Rawson. The Nutrition segment of this eagerly anticipated Howard Aris Memorial
Lecture will be covered by highly respected licensed Nutritionist and Dietitian
Sandra Ortiz Rosado.

NAGOYA
(JPN): Brett Larner informs on his blog that the organizers of the reformatted
Nagoya Women’s Marathon have announced the elite field for the final Japanese
women’s Olympic selection race to be held March 11. The all-but-negligible
international field features veteran medalists Kenyan Catherine Ndereba and
Lidia Simon of Romania returning for their perpetual Japanese invites along
with Eastern Europeans Albina Mayorova, Olena Shurkhno and Rasa Drazdauskaite.
Fifteen Japanese women are on the invited list to contend for the Olympic team
spot or spots still available. General opinion has two places available, with
Osaka International Women’s Marathon winner Risa Shigetomo a lock after
her 2:23:23 victory but Yokohama winner Ryoko Kizaki given little chance of
making the Olympic team with only a 2:26:32. Those shooting for places
include the current and former national record holders Mizuki Noguchi and Yoko
Shibui, 2011’s top two women Yoshimi Ozaki and Yukiko Akaba, past World
Championships marathoners Yuri Kano, Remi Nakazato, Yoshiko Fujinaga and Mai
Ito.

DESSAU
(GER): The 11th Dessau Jumping indoor meet will be held on March 2, one week
before the World Indoor Championships. Two events will be staged. In men´s pole
vault home elite headed by Malte Mohr, Raphael Holzdeppe, Fabian Schulze,
Karsten Dilla, Tim Lobinger and mainly in-shape Bjorn Otto. International
jumpers will be represented by Daegu medalist Cuban Lazaro Borges and former
world champion Giuseppe Gibilisco from Italy. Mohr is the title defender, last
year he improved the meet record to 583 cm. In the women high jump Russian
favorites Irina Gordeyeva and Svetlana Shkolina.

NAIROBI
(KEN): In an effort to improve the quality of future olympic participants
Athletics Kenya announced that trials for the two longest track competitions
will now be held in Eugene, Oregon, USA, at the annual Prefontaine Classic
track and field meeting on June 1. That is one day before the main programme
day. AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat strongly defended the decision, saying there will
be an elaborate elimination programme in Kenya which starts when a select
group of Olympic prospects set up camp in Eldoret from next month. The decision
to divorce the 10 000 m and 5000 m selection from the traditional national
trials – to be held at the Nyayo National Stadium from June 21 to 23 – has met
with mixed reactions, but Kiplagat maintains something has to be done to bring
the elusive Olympic medals. Informs The Nation.

NEW YORK
(USA): When US sprinters Walter Dix and Carmelita Jeter line up in the starting
blocks in London this summer, they’ll do so wearing recycled plastic bottles.
Marathoner Abdi Abdirahman will wear running shoes that look like they were
crocheted by grandma. That, of course, is a simplistic way of describing
some of the most high-tech, sustainable, performance apparel and footwear Nike
has developed to date. On Day one of a two-day Olympics innovation summit
held at Basketball City in New York City, Nike revealed innovations in
basketball and running, including the uniforms that will be worn by the U.S.
men’s and women’s basketball teams and track athletes in all events. US media
are reporting.

NEW
KINGSTON (JAM): The PanCaribbean Sigma Corporate Run on Sunday on the streets
of New Kingston, had over 16,000 registered participants and over 33 million
JAD being raised to date for Chain of Hope Jamaica to improve the cardiac unit
at the Bustamante Hospital for Children. Present and supporting this charity
event was also world record holder Usain Bolt. Informs Trackalerts.

RESULTS

YALTA
(UKR, Feb 22): During first day of Ukrainian Winter Throwing Championships
Alyona Sharotina improved the U17 national mark in girls hammer throw to 61.65
m (4 kg).

PRAHA
(CZE, Feb 21): At open meet Jan Kudlicka cleared 552 in the pole vault and
tried at Istanbul standard of 572.

NASSAU
(BAH, Feb 17-18): Reigning World Youth and Junior 400 m champion Shanae Miller
showed her speed at the 9th Annual Club Monica Athletics Track and Field
Classic when she captured the women’s sprint double 11.50 (+0.4) and 22.95
(-0.2). Both times are personal bests for her. Informs Trackalerts.

BOGOTA
(COL, Feb 18): At Colombian walking championships Freddy Hernandez won the 35
km in 2:40:59, James Rendon was the best in the 20 km (1:28:43) and Sandra
Galvis in the women 20 km (1:39:41). Continental junior champion Eider Arévalo
was the best in the 10 km (43:04). It should be noted that Bogota is in high
altitude.

KISUMU
(KEN, Feb 19): Victor Kipchirichir won the 40th anniversary Half-Marathon at
Kenya Technical Teachers College with fast 1:00:27. Kamiu Wanjiku closely
followed him a second later with 1:00:28. Joseph Kiptum finished third
after clocking 1:00:55. In the women race Mercy Chemtai was the best in 1:12:51
ahead of Caroline Chepkemoi 1:13:59 and Winfrida Nyansikera 1:14:02.

CLAREMORRIS
(IRL, Feb 19): Colin Griffin won the 35 km national walking championships in
2:15:17.

CORRECTION

STOCKHOLM
(SWE): Of course Hellebaut and Chicherova are competing in the high jump (not
long jump).