Russian and US Athletes to Compete in Historic Challenge
Moscow, 30 July 2004: Each year on the first weekend of September the city of Moscow marks the anniversary of its foundation with a great line-up of activities, but this year the birthday celebrations will be enhanced with the addition of the Challenge of Russia, an athletics tournament that will bring together the best athletes from Russia and the U.S.
The Challenge of Russia will be held in the Grand Arena of the Luzhniki Sports Complex, Valentin Balakhnichev, Head of the Russian Track and Field Federation, told a news-conference.
The competition represents the revival of a tradition of athletics tournaments between Russia and the United States – the 'Matches of Giants' between the USSR and the U.S. were held 18 times (nine meets in each country) from 1956 to 1983.
The tournament will take place only days after the Athens Games, and organisers expect numerous Olympic medallists among the list of participants. An Aeroflot plane will bring the best Russian and American athletes directly from Athens to Moscow to compete in 20 events – nine for men and 11 for women.
Three athletes from each team will participate in every running event and two in each of the other disciplines, such as shot put, javelin, and high jump. The Challenge of Russia Prize Fund will be comparable with that of the IAAF Golden League tournaments, where an athlete wins around US$15,000 for first place.
New stands are to be erected in the northern part of the Luzhniki Sports Complex for the five thousand spectators of this historic competition.
For enquires or additional information please contact:
Antonina Gerfanova
The Willard Group / Burson-Marsteller Moscow
Tel : +7 095 788-7401, Gerfanova@willardgroup.ru
Website: www.m2012.ru
The Challenge of Russia will be held in the Grand Arena of the Luzhniki Sports Complex, Valentin Balakhnichev, Head of the Russian Track and Field Federation, told a news-conference.
The competition represents the revival of a tradition of athletics tournaments between Russia and the United States – the 'Matches of Giants' between the USSR and the U.S. were held 18 times (nine meets in each country) from 1956 to 1983.
The tournament will take place only days after the Athens Games, and organisers expect numerous Olympic medallists among the list of participants. An Aeroflot plane will bring the best Russian and American athletes directly from Athens to Moscow to compete in 20 events – nine for men and 11 for women.
Three athletes from each team will participate in every running event and two in each of the other disciplines, such as shot put, javelin, and high jump. The Challenge of Russia Prize Fund will be comparable with that of the IAAF Golden League tournaments, where an athlete wins around US$15,000 for first place.
New stands are to be erected in the northern part of the Luzhniki Sports Complex for the five thousand spectators of this historic competition.
For enquires or additional information please contact:
Antonina Gerfanova
The Willard Group / Burson-Marsteller Moscow
Tel : +7 095 788-7401, Gerfanova@willardgroup.ru
Website: www.m2012.ru