Å árka Kašpárkova and Denisa Rosolová, the latter pair having been already announced, to become ambassadors of the 2011 European Athletics U23 Championships in Ostrava this summer.
 |
| Former decathlete Robert Zm„›lík and high jumper Jaroslav Baba (left) are the new ambassadors of the European Athletics U23 Championships Ostrava 2011. - Photo courtesy - www.ostrava2011.com/Pavel Lebeda |
Decathlete Robert Zm„›lík and high jumper Jaroslav Bába have joined up with
The 2011 European Athletics U23 Championships will be held in the Czech city from 14-17 July.
“I grew up in Ostrava and so the championship is very dear to me,' said Zm„›lík, the 1992 Olympic Games decathlon champion and the man who has acted as a role model for subsequent Czech multi-event stars like decathlon world record holders Tomáš Dvo…™ák and Roman Å ebrle.
“It is good that there is an intermediate step, which helps athletes in the transition from the junior to senior categories. It (the U23 Championships) reinforces young athletes with the motivation to continue in the sport, teaching them how to fight for medals and it can give them the experience of the feeling of victory. It is then easier for them to cope when they face someone wearing a US vest or an athlete from another other power,' added Zm„›lík, who is now 42.
Bába, 26, was a winner at the 2005 European Athletics U23 Championship, which was held that year in the German city of Erfurt.
'I just have fond memories. There was a fantastic atmosphere and the medallists were much appreciated (by the crowd). I competed against the likes of Russia’s Andrey Silnov and Sweden’s Linus Thörnblad (and also in the final were Russian Alexandr Shustov and Cryprus’ Kyriacos Ioannou) who were not yet too familiar but eventually were to reach the top of their profession,” said Baba.
Baba has used the 2011 Championships venue, the M„›stský stadion ve Vítkovicích (Vítkovice City Stadium), as his main training base for the last 10 years.
'I am convinced that the event will be as successful as the IAAF World Youth Championships which took place here four years ago,' added Baba, who won a bronze medal as a teenager at the 2004 Olympic Games and bounced back into the limelight to also take the bronze medal at the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships in March.
'Maybe someone will ask why we have four ambassadors, but there's a logic, said the Local Organising Committee general secretary Old…™ich Zvolánek.
“We wanted athletic stars, both past and present, which come from our region. We also have male and female mascots, so we wished to maintain the gender equality with our ambassadors.”
Zvolánek confirmed that he expects approximately 800 athletes to be in Ostrava. “In the preliminary entries, 829 athletes have signed up. The Championships should be attended by representatives of 45 countries; the only ones missing will be the very small states of Europe.”
Each day of the Championships will be broadcast on Czech TV and available throughout the rest of Europe via the European Broadcasting Union.
There is more information about the Championships on the event website: www.ostrava2011.com.