time to start this thread with the latest news and happenings towards the world indoors in March 2008…
Valencia unveils new advanced track for World Indoor Championships
Valencia, Spain - The new Mondo athletics track laid down at the “Velódromo Luis Puig”, the venue for the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships, Valencia, Spain (7 – 9 March 2008), was officially inaugurated on Monday (3).
Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were the Mayoress of Valencia city Rita Barberá, Culture and Sports regional government minister Trinidad Miró, and Royal Spanish Athletics Federation President José María Odriozola.
Athletes were also well represented at the ceremony by Italy’s Andrew Howe, the reigning European indoor and outdoor Long Jump champion and World outdoor silver medallist, as well as Spain’s top hurdlers Josephine Onya, Glory Alozie and Jackson Quiñónez.
The new track has the same surface as will be used for 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and is called “Mondotrack FTX”.
The new track has hydraulic devices which raise the banking of the bends in order to help the athletes’ effort. Reportedly only 8 other countries in the world have this kind of technology.
Odriozola, who is also an IAAF Council member, explained: “This is a fantastic Sports Hall. All the preparations for the Worlds are on schedule and I’m convinced it will be a complete success in every sense: organizational, crowd but also in terms of athletics standards. The Spanish Indoor Championships will be staged on this facility two weeks before and it should be a perfect and final dress-rehearsal for the Worlds.”
Reigning World Indoor 60m hurdles silver medallist Glory Alozie pointed out: “I’m sure lots of world bests will be set on this new track”.
The track will also have an international debut next 9 February when the annual IAAF indoor permit meeting takes place in Valencia.
The “Palau Velódromo Luis Puig” is located northeast in the city, at the “Benimamet” area and close to the “Feria de Muestras”; it was first inaugurated in the summer of 1992 on the occasion of the World Cycling Track Championships. Once that competition was over, the roof was installed and Their Majesties the King Juan Carlos and the Queen Sofia were present at the official opening ceremony on 9 November 1992.
It was in 1994 that a 200m-ring track was laid down to host the Spanish Championships in February 1995. Three years later (1998), the facility witnessed an unforgettable edition of the European Indoor Championships.
Spain will be organising the World Indoor Championships for the third time after Seville and Barcelona hosted the event in 1991 and 1995 respectively.
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
