Foreword
 by
Dr Primo Nebiolo
President of the International Amateur Athletic
Federation
It is with
particular pleasure that I welcome all of you
around the world who are unable to be in
Podebrady in person to the 18th IAAF
World Race Walking Cup on Internet, for this
event will coincide with the celebration of a
century of Athletics in the Czech Republic.
In its century of
existence the Czech Athletics Federation has
produced some great champions, from Emil Zatopek
to Jan Zelezny, and we can look forward to some
champion performances in Podebrady during the
World Race Walking Cup.
The area of the
former Czechoslovakia has produced some legendary
race walkers over the years: Josef Dolezal set no
fewer than four world records in the Fifties,
Ladislav Moc two and Milan Skront another. More
recently, Jozef Pribilinec set an Olympic record
in the 20km road walk in Seoul in 1988.
Czechoslovakia
also introduced the first women’s race
walking contests way back in 1932 and will,
today, be the stage for the first IAAF World Race
Walking Cup to offer competition awards to the
successful athletes in what is one of
Athletics’ most gruelling disciplines.
Wherever you may
be, join us for what promises to be a splendid
battle between the world’s greatest
champions on the beautiful streets of Podebrady.
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