Legends support Athletics in the Jungle

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Athletics deserves its status as one of the most accessible and universal sports, and a new initiative of the Brazilian Athletics Federation means that even the Jungle can play host to athletics.

On a visit to a village located near Iranduba and Manacapura, in the heart of the Amazon region of Brazil, Olympic athletes past and present, and local IAAF dignitaries enjoyed a special competition held between youngsters from 10 ethnic Indian tribes, in the magnificent setting of the tropical rainforest, sponsored by CAIXA and known as "Athletics in the Jungle".

Having arrived upstream on the Rio Negro by boat, the IAAF delegation, headed by President Lamine Diack, was welcomed to the haunting sound of native type pan pipes by the chief of the Satere tribe who hosted the competition.

President Diack was impressed by the beautiful setting and said "I am so delighted to see how athletics can reach every corner of the world, even a place as special as Amazonia. I believe it is very important that this region is conserved for future generations. It is a great privilege to be here and witness how Kids' Athletics can reach even here."

Brazil's Olympic champion for Long Jump Maurren Maggi, and her Olympic colleague Fabiana Murer helped to inspire the youngsters who had come from all over the region to take part in the competition, which consisted of 50 metres sprints for boys and girls and a Long Jump, all carefully marked out with tapes on the ground of the village clearing.

Maggi, who brought her three year-old daughter Sophia with her, said "This initiative of Athletics in the Jungle is fantastic and the first thing I did when I arrived is to sign up my daughter so she could take part and have fun with the other kids!"

IAAF Council Member and President of the South American Athletics Confederation Roberto Gesta de Melo said "One of the reasons that we pushed for this initiative was to show that champions can be born everywhere if they get the right opportunities."

"These indigenous Indians may certainly have youngsters here who could be professional athletes in the future and we are proud to be able to give them a taste of this sport and to give them the chance to meet the great champions who are here with us today."

"Not only do we have the IAAF President here with other colleagues from the Council but legendary athletes like Sergey Bubka, Sebastian Coe, Alberto Juantorena, Jefferson Perez and Nelson Prudencio. I am sure that the youngsters will leave with amazing memories of the competition and hopefully, be inspired by meeting these great names."

Before the start of the competition, some Indians from the Satere-Mawe tribe gave a demonstration of the "Tucandeira ritual" for their guests.

This ritual, which takes place every year in November is rite of passage for tribal boys. To demonstrate their courage and resistance to pain, the boys must put their hands in special gloves, which have been filled with a special of Amazonian ant that has a painful sting. Despite being stun repeatedly, the boys must dance and sing until the tribal elders decide that the rite of passage to manhood has been properly completed. (Courtesy: IAAF)

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Gebrselassie returns to Dubai in search of $1 Million World record bonus

Haile Gebrselassie who sensationally improved his marathon World record last weekend in Berlin with the first ever sub 2:04 clocking in history race will race in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on 16 January 2009, with a $1 Million bonus for a further improvement of the global mark his ultimate target. Gebrselassie, 35 won the 2008 Dubai race, but started much too fast, and eventually ran 2:04:53, then second only to his world record 2:04:26 in Berlin 2007. The tiny Ethiopian returned to Berlin last Sunday, improving to 2:03:59, thus becoming the first sub-2.04 marathoner in history, and owner of the three fastest times in history.

The Ethiopian's return to Dubai will now be even more eagerly anticipated. "I made a mistake with the pace in Dubai last time," said Gebrselassie after his Berlin victory, "and I learned from that mistake."

"Everything has to be perfect for another record, weather, pacemakers. I feel I can do 2:03 something. If I don't get injured, maybe 2:02:59, but considering my shape and my age, 2:03:30, or 2:03:20."

Not counting the World record bonus, the Dubai Marathon's overall prize pot is already $1m, with $250,000 each going to the men's and women's winners. (www.iaaf.org)