In the
White lounge of the Poljud stadium, the global athletics competition – the
IAAF/VTB Bank Continental Cup and the renovated stadium „Poljud beauty“ have been presented to the public. The main goals of the Continental Cup and the works done for this Cup in Poljud stadium have been presented by
Siniša Ergotić, Director of the Continental Cup Split 2010,
Luciano Sušanj, President of the Croatian Athletics Federation,
Anđelka Visković, Vice-mayor of the city of Split and
Blanka Vlašić, World champion in high jump.
The Continental Cup represents a global athletic competition, where four team selections from
Europe, Northern and Southern America, Africa and Asia & Oceania will compete on
September 04th and 05th. The honor of hosting this great event was given by the IAAF to Croatia and the city of Split.
For this international event, the Poljud stadium was transformed into an ideal sports arena, an overall investment of eight million Kuna. The preparations for this major sports event in athletics , with more than
400 athletes are progressing as planned, with focus on the new athletic track, that has given a whole new dimension to the Poljud stadium.
Siniša Ergotić emphasized:
" It is my great pleasure that the International Association of Athletics Federations decided to join efforts with the Croatian Athletics Federation and the city of Split in promoting international athletics in this first issue of the Continental Cup. In the Poljud beauty, on September 04th and 05th the best athletes from Europe Northern and Southern America, Africa and Asia & Oceania will compete for medals and we as organizers, will do our best to enable optimum conditions for the achievement of their individual goals and wishes, i.e. top sports results. Based on this years results, Croatia will be represented by Blanka Vlašić (high jumps), Sandra Perković (disc throwing) and Nedžad Mulabegović (shotput). We believe that they will award us with great achievements as result of the years and years of work they invested into their sport disciplines".
Luciano Šušanj spoke on behalf of the entire organization of the Croatian Athletics Federation and stressed:
"We all still remember the European Championship we hosted and are in particular thankful for the popularization and development this Championship gave to athletics in Croatia. As organizers, we are well aware of the great responsibility that we have accepted, because we will host the leading athletes of this Queen of sports. I am personally very confident that we will offer excitement to all fans of sport and athletics and we as organizers are very proud to have the honor to be a part of creation of athletics history."
Anđelka Visković added:
" Because of this global competition in athletics the Poljud stadium was given a whole new dimension. The track has been completely replaced with a new, top –notch one, all seats were cleaned and replaced in both the general audience and the VIP and journalist boxes, all entrances for spectators were painted. The works on the sanitary facilities and locker-rooms are almost completed in our Poljud beauty. "
Under the IAAF patronage, the Croatian Athletics Federation and the city of Split have successfully prepared everything for the organization of the Continental Cup, as a top sports event. The event itself will be broadcasted by more than
150 TV stations and 500 journalists and photographers are announced so far. A total of
60000 spectators is expected to come to Poljud stadium during the event. The data, that broadcasting rights have been sold in more than
130 countries speaks of the importance and generated attention of the international public for this IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup.