The director of the US national track and field team, Sandy Snow came for a two day visit to Split in order to find an adequate location in Split or its surroundings for a training camp for the American team for the
IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup. With Cup director,
Mr. Siniša Ergotić, she inspected several offered locations that comply with the requirements for training of the best world athletes. At the end she selected two of the locations that will be reviewed with her associates. The first solution is accommodation of the American team in the hotel President in Solin and training at the venue of “Park mladeži”, the second one is accommodation in hotel Alga in Tučepi and usage of the stadium and venue in Makarska.
“I am absolutely thrilled , because Split and the surround is truly beautiful and the people are very friendly. The conditions for our training camp are very good and I don’t need to mention the high quality accommodation facilities and the beauty of the local landscape. We plan to arrive to Croatia on August 28th with a team of some 85 athletes and 27 staff members. In the coming fortnight we will make our final decision on the location of our training camp. Before we decide I need to consult the other coordinators of our team. Still, there is no doubt that we plan to establish this camp and I personally look forward of visiting Split and the surroundings again.” , said Sandy Snow.
As one of the three coordinators of the American team, witch includes the best athletes from Northern, Central and Southern America, Mrs. Snow told us when the final list of athletes who will compete at the Cup in Split will be known.
“On August 04th we will send them all invitations for the participation at the Continental Cup and they will have four days to answer. Of course, I do expect that all the best will come, after all the Continental Cup is considered a very important competition. Our athletes loved Athens, so I am confident that they will also love Split and the surroundings, because this is a similar region with an impressive history.”
It was particularly interesting to hear about the participation of the fastest man on earth,
Usain Bolt. This Jamaican could be part of the
relay 4x100 meters, together with
Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, which will give the IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup a whole new dimension.
“This is an idea that we have taken into consideration and we have already undertaken certain steps so that the fastest man in the world comes to Split and participates in this relay that would surely become one of the greatest of all times. Bolt is a big international star and I would personally like very much to have him in our team. But this doesn’t depend only on us, but mainly himself and his manger. His participation at the Cup in Split would not only be a great honour for us and the organizers of the Continental Cup, but for the IAAF in general. I hope that this idea will be realized for the pleasure of all of us participating in this event”, concluded Snow.