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XV. AIMS World Congress in Valencia / Spain – the largest races in the world get together
25th « Maraton Popular de Valencia » celebrates its anniversary on February 20, 2005
2005-02-27
AIMS, the association of the largest running event organisers in the world (Association of International Marathons and Road Races) which was founded in May 1982 at the 1st World Congress in London, met with its members this year from February 17-19 at the bi-annual world congress in Valencia, Spain. |
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With ca. 780,000 inhabitants, Valencia, which is located at the Costa Blanca
on the Mediterranean just a 30-minute flight away from Mallorca, is the third
largest city in Spain and is making great efforts to bring big sporting events
to the city.
Just recently it was unsuccessful in bringing the IAAF Track and Field Championships in 2009 to the city, but it has reached one large goal: the America’s Cup will soon be a guest in the city.
Ideal for runners
It is an ideal place for runners to train — the river Turia, which once
ran through the city, was simply redirected, and the former river bed is now a
wide green strip lined with parks, playgrounds and playing fields and is a
great place to train. In addition, unique and architecturally very impressive
cultural and exhibition venues have been built and are still being built
here.
The AIMS members took part in a reception in the Valencia city town hall, where the mayor, Rita Barbera, greeted and welcomed the international race organizers.
Valencia
Valencia is a very inviting and friendly city with impressive architecture and
very well cared for old buildings, numerous small restaurants and cafes. At
night, the historical edifices are lighted and are a delicacy for tourists to
admire.
200 races from 70 countries
AIMS now represents 200 large races event organisers from 70 countries, led by
the the big marathon like Boston Marathon, the Flora London Marathon, the ING
New York City Marathon, the LaSalle Chicago Marathon and the real,- BERLIN
MARATHON.
The president of AIMS is Hiroaki Chosa (JPN), who is also the race director of the famous Fukuoka Marathon and a member of the IAAF Road Races und Cross-Country Commission.
Martin Fiz as speaker
The speakers at the congress, which was excellently prepared and organised by
AIMS board member Francisco Borao, included Martin Fiz, Marathon World
Champion, Adrian Metcalfe (GBR), chairman of the UK Sport’s Intl. Panel,
Greg Bowman (AUS), responsible for the sport presentations of the Olympic Games
in Sydney 2000, Rodolfo Eichler (BRA), Mark Milde (Berlin), Alan Brooks
(Toronto), Dr. Jesus Torres (Madrid) and Dr. Lars Brechtel from the medical
team of the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON.
Dr. Lars Brechtel held an impressive talk about the medical care and safety at the large marathon races. The statistical data gathered during the last few marathons in Berlin was made public for the first time in this form.
300 members in the future
AIMS is planning on having 300 members from around the world in the future,
while value is still being placed on further improving the quality standards
and the communication between the members, which is promoted by the quarterly
magazine “Distance Running“ and through the website
http://www.aims-association.org
The next period of AIMS is going on with Hiroaki Chosa (JPN) as president and with u.a. Allan Steinfeld (New York City), Nick Bitel (London), Horst Milde (Berlin), Guy Morse (Boston) and others.
The further development of the sport of running, especially efforts to motivate more girls and women to run, are main goals for AIMS for the future. Another aim is to evoke more interest in running events from Asian organizers in order to expand the segment of the population interested in running on that continent.
In this sense, it is appropriate that the XVI AIMS World Congress in 2007 will take place in Xiamen, China.
Regional AIMS meeting and course-measurer seminar in Berlin
2005
AIMS will also continue to improve and optimise the communication and
cooperation between running event organisers regionally outside of the World
Congresses.
Thus, at the 32nd real,- BERLIN-MARATHON on September 25, 2005 there will be a
parallel meeting of the European AIMS members, as well as a seminar on
surveying in cooperation with the DLV and the IAAF.
Valencia marathon
The Valencia Marathon set a new event record with 3,500 runners. With the
weather overcast and cool with strong winds, the runners made a big loop
through the city centre, finishing in a stadium.
The record-holders for the race are Samuel Tangus (KEN) with 2:13:05 (2002), who won in 2003 as well, and for the women, Maria Abel (ESP) in 2:28:08.
The victors in 2005:
Men:
1. Rachid Chaoudi (MAR) 2:14:03
2. Joseph Mutiso (KEN) 2:14:50
3. Erik Kiptoo (KEN) 2:15:10
Women:
1. Nadejda Zolotareva 2:43:24
2. Isabella Kerubo (KEN) 2:45:04
A total of 3,061 runners crossed the finish at the 25th Valencia Marathon.
Horst Milde
http://www.correcaminos.org
Photos:
Francis Kay - 2 x
Global-Pix.com Ltd
Hamilton, New Zealand
www.Marathon-Photos.com
Mark Milde: 1 x
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