Perdita Felicien and Felix Sanchez at the traditional Strawberry Party in Bergen (© Getty Images)
The second largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo, Bergen with a population of 230,000, will welcome the Evergood Bergen Bislett Games, the opening meet of the TDK Golden League 2004 on Friday (11 June) in the newly refurbished Fana stadium.
International flavour
Founded in the 11th century, Bergen in the 13th century was the capital of Norway and was one of the world’s major ports in the Middle Ages, being part of the Baltic’s Hanseatic trading League. Today, Bergen’s wealth is derived from the North Sea Oil fields.
So it is quiet in-keeping with the city’s established international connections, that it will host the Evergood Bergen Bislett Games, as it appropriately it finds itself the hub of the world of Athletics this week.
Oslo’s Bislett stadium the traditional home of Norway’s premier athletics fixture is currently being re-built and so is unavailable.
In the micro-climate of Norway’s Western coast which is affected by the Gulf Stream, Bergen is prone to persistent rain, and this week it is living up to it’s damp reputation as the participants in yesterday’s IAAF Kid’s Athletics will testify.
Click her for link to Bergen Kid’s Athletics story
Quality start list
However, the quality of the start list which the organisers have composed for this meeting is of such weight that unless there is a deluge on Friday night, the spirits of even the wettest will be lifted by what is set to be a wonderful start to the TDK Golden League 2004.
As per tradition, the Bislett Strawberry Party this afternoon provided the formal opening to tomorrow's meet with IAAF President Lamine Diack, the Mayor of Bergen Herman Friele, and Meeting Director Svein Arne Hansen, giving the opening speeches.
The party took place in the picturesque setting of the medieval buildings of the Bryggen Tracteursted, and on show were some of tomorrow night’s featured athletes, Perdita Felicien (CAN), Christian Olsson (SWE), Felix Sanchez (DOM) and Justin Gatlin (USA).
Felicien - The next "Million Dollar Mutola"?
World Indoor and outdoor sprint hurdles champion Perdita Felicien is set to have quite a battle in the women’s 100m Hurdles against Melissa Morrison (USA) who beat her in the Home Depot meet and Jamaica’s Delloreen Ennis-London who got the better of her in Seville last weekend.
Yet the Canadian can take heart from a marvellous win in Ostrava on Tuesday in which she gained quick revenge over both her rivals. However, American veteran Gail Devers could quite easily have the last laugh on all three of them.
"Ostrava was a great thrill and a relief because it helped me regain some kind of confidence after two loses," said Felicien.
"I have raced against Gail many times and she is always going to be someone hard to beat. You have to bring your 'A' game along to defeat her, as she is great competitor but she is not invincible."
And about the TDK Golden League Jackpot?
"Well, I'd love to be another "Million Dollar Mutola"! That would be nice but it's definitely going to be hard to win all the meets. But yes to be a millionaire at 23 would be a dream come true."
Olsson - "Good preparation for Athens"
Christian Olsson is like Felicien, the World indoor and outdoor champion. In the men’s Triple Jump he faces a similarly stiff challenge in Bergen. Brazil’s Jadel Gregorio who took a surprise World silver in Budapest last March, leapt out to a world season’s lead of 17.72 in São Paulo at the weekend, and is sure to present formidable opposition to the exceptionally gifted Swede.
"Well I can tell you for sure that the track record (Jonathan Edwards 17.23, 2000) will definitely be gone tomorrow," said Olsson.
"I plan to do all six Golden League meets whether or not I am still in the running for the Jackpot. All these meetings provide good preparation for Athens."
18 metres?
"Yes I have been too obsessed with it...so I am just going out to compete now and enjoying what I love doing. My ability to get to that mark is certainly better than ever."
Sanchez - "I train to beat myself"
Double World 400m Hurdles champion Felix Sanchez (DOM) after starting the season on the flat at a slightly lower level than in the last two years, immediately answered the question of his wavering form in his first outing over the hurdles in Ostrava on Tuesday. Sanchez strode to victory in 48.44 to prove he is still the favourite for the Olympic laurels.
In Bergen, he will be challenged by European champion Stephane Diagana of France, World silver medallist Joey Woody (USA), and the young talented South African Okkert Cilliers among a classy line-up.
"My race in Ostrava was technically bad, the first five hurdles were good but then after that I lost it,'said Sanchez. "However, I came away with a good mental good attitude. I have also got to focus on running the curve just that little harder."
"These early races are just stepping stones to the bigger picture of the summer and the Olympics."
"I always hope that my opponents will put me under pressure , as that always makes me step up a gear."
"Basically I train to beat myself, not my competitors. I train to beat the best, and that's me right now!"
Gatlin to take on World champion
Justin Gatlin too will have come away from Tuesday’s race as a happy man, as the 2003 World Indoor 60m champion took a confident 200m win in 20.30 in Ostrava. Tomorrow he will once again meet fellow American Shawn Crawford who he beat then but both men will have to be keen to fend off World 200m champion John Capel who won in Luzern last night.
"I am working on technical things, working on my curve and hope that I can keep my 200m standard as good as I already have in the 100," said Gatlin.
'If I didn't think I could win here I wouldn't be here. I am looking forward to going out and winning, putting two wins back to back."
"I want and intend to keep the golden coloured Jackpot bib number (denotes athlete still incontention for Jackpot) on my chest throughout the summer."
"I really get excited by both distances (100 and 200), and I would love to double at the Olympics, and my schedule now is helping to train my body for the trials."
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Summary of other events
In two previous press release stories on this site, we have already covered in some detail what highlights we might expect from the meeting on Friday in Bergen –
Click here for Track events story
Click here for Field events story
