Musings From Mazatlan, Coupe Mondial Mexico – 23 April, 2004

OLA Amiga’s, Amigo’s – Mazatlan ITU World Cup: There is a bustle of activity at the transition area here in sunny Mazatlan, as the work crew, mainly employees of the major sponsor – Corona Beer, erected on what was once a dusty parking lot a colourful triathlon "cirque du soleil"

In the tranquil waters of the "Bay of the Lighthouse", crews are busy laying out the 2 lap swim course as dozens of athletes; age group and elite, swim hither and yon getting some practice in before the age-groupers head off tomorrow, 800 of them, followed on Sunday by the "Best in the World" elites, many still hoping and striving for a place on the starting line in Athens at the Olympic Games.

Mexico never fails to surprise us with its quixotic contradictions. The race organizer is a young woman – supervising the construction workers, the officials, the medical team, the works. Pam Fralick and the ITU Woman’s Committee should be proud of her, I know I am. Remember her name – Lucia Mijares (21 years old). But I digress.

Wildhaus Winter Triathlon Switzerland: 13 March. A well organized event by Hans-Peter Schuck and his team of avid volunteers, including Micheal Machaka, a member of "Team ITU", leading up to Athens. We televised the event with ITU Media’s Brian Mahoney from Ireland. He was quite at home in the snow.

Brian is also our computer and website camera guru and produced the live web-site show, and a fine show it was, begorrah!

Enrique Quesada from Spain rounded out "Team ITU" as the Technical Delegate, and general work horse. Enrique in his younger life was a member of the Spanish Winter Olympic team and no stranger to the vagaries of snow and brooding mountains.

Michel Gignoux: There was a certain pall over our work in Wildhaus – the absence of Michel Gignoux, who we have to admit has been a devotee of Winter Triathlon and brought it to the level it currently is. We were in constant contact with his family in France, monitoring his tenacity in his struggle against the scourge of cancer, a struggle which you all know he was not able to win.

WADA Conference: After Wildhaus, I attended the World Anti Doping Agency conference in Lausanne, for International Federations. The struggle for a world of drug free sports is advancing, under the leadership of Richard Pound the president and IOC member in Montreal, Canada. A struggle I fear we will never succeed in winning completely, but persist we must, without falter.

Keynote speakers were Tom Dielen from Lausanne and Rob Koelher – Montreal.

Several of the delegates raised the question of financial costs sustained by servicing WADA. It is certainly straining the time and energy of most of the "so-called’ minor International Federations – including ours – in particular money-wise!

A positive test from Russia resulted in an automatic 2 year suspension for the Woman Triathlete concerned. Otherwise, the out-of-competition testing done by WADA continues, some the day before competitions. To this point in time all have been negative in 2004.

I am confident our athletes have not succumbed to this depravity, but it is a campaign on our part which requires constant vigilance and constant education on the dangers to health and reputation from performance enhancing substances.

At the "Nice ITU Congress 2003" WADA spokesman Tom Dielan promised that tests conducted at non-ITU event such as Ironman, Powerman and X-terra would not be sent to ITU for action. Sadly this has not been the case. Further action is required on our part, and that of WADA.

Pan American Championships: Acapulco, Mexico, 21 March. A well-organised event in sunny Acapulco, thanks to the efforts of Jaime Cadaval and Antonio Alvarez of "Team ITU".

Jaime will be working in Athens at the Olympic Games as a volunteer, a member of the ITU Technical Committee and Competition Jury. His baby daughter Natalie and wife Adriana are in fine shape.

Jaime was the ever efficient Technical Delegate in Acapulco and reported a safe and fair event.

Beijing Site Visit: Upon the invitation of Beijing 2008 Olympic Organising Committee, I spent four very productive days going over the proposal for the 2008 Olympic course and the World cup events to be staged there commencing in 2005.

The site is approximately 1 hour drive from Beijing and is located at the city reservoir, quite close to the Ming Tombs, and the Great Wall of China.

It looks fine. I made some proposals for changes to include hills for the bike course. Final sign-off will of course be done by the ITU Technical Committee.

A visit to the training centre revealed a modern centre for Triathlon, Pentathlon, Fencing and Cycling set in the rolling hills outside the city perimeter.

ITU Executive Board member Mr. Xin Li, who is also a supervisor at the training academy, was an informative and gracious host, in both French and English. Positive meetings were held with the Chinese Triathlon team, and a decision to send the most promising of them to Ishigaki, Mazatlan and Madeira.

Productive meetings with the BOCOG 2008 Vice President Mr. Yang Shu’an and Mr. Zhiwei Pan, along with the rest of the BOCOG team were conducted at the BOCOG headquarters. They will attend the December ITU Congress in Vancouver and report on the Beijing Games Preparations.

Chinese people smoke an incredible 1.7 trillion cigarettes a year, according to their own statistics, with over 300 million smokers, making China the world’s biggest market for cigarette makers. Marlboro and Camel lead the way, with glaring bill boards hither and yon in Beijing.

The IOC refuses to sign contracts with tobacco manufacturers, as does ITU and is proud of the IOC slogan of "Tobacco-free sport". However sportswear companies such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Fila, it is alleged, produce such sportswear uniforms and shoes, working in sweatshop conditions, for up to 14 hours per day and more, with wages equivalent to that of Oliver Twist, a hundred years ago. Working conditions are dangerous, with no sick leave or maternity leave in most of the dismal factories in Asia. Is it now time, long overdue, for the Olympic movement to refuse to sign contracts with Sportswear companies who exploit workers, principally women so mercilessly?

Beijing 2004: ITU International Event: To be held 12 September – invitations to athletes will be offered by the sponsors, "All Star International Co. Ltd," through ITU, with large television coverage and prize purse.

African Regional Championships: Conducted in Langebaan, South Africa, under the guidance of Liesbeth Stoltz, the ITU Regional Representative for Africa. A direct qualifier for 1 woman and 1 man to the Athens Olympic Games, subject to the approval of the National Olympic Committee. Brian Mahoney of "Team ITU" attended the event and produced spectacular live web coverage from the event in cooperation with Liesbeth.

Costa Rica: The Sport and Recreation National Council has issued the following statement: "The Constitutional Board of the Justice Supreme Court declared that it has suspended, and revoked the National representation of the Costa Rican Triathlon Federation, Mr. Guillermo Saenz. Signed: Delia Villalobos, MSC, National Director.

Asian Regional Championships: Philippines, 3, 4 April: A successful event under the auspices of the Philippine National Federation and President Tom Carassco, ITU Regional Representative for Asia.

Held in scenic Subic Bay, it also qualified one man and one woman directly to the Athens Games, subject to NOC approval.

A Congress of the ASTC was held, with 15 NFs in attendance. Unity was the theme, and it was achieved. Two women were elected to the Executive Board to confirm to ITU requirements: Ms Surekah Ramachandran (IND) and Ruth Hunt (HKG). Ms Ray Hahn, from Korea, was appointed an honorary woman member of the Board. She is the full-time Executive Secretary of ASTC.

"Team ITU" from Asia are committed to increasing the sport of triathlon in Asia and worldwide, both in numbers of athletes and national federations. With Beijing looming on the horizon and the Asian Games 2007 in Qatar before that, it is time to shift our focus to Asia.

ITU 15^th Anniversary, Avignon, April 1989: We have come so far in such a short time, haven’t we? Who could have imagined that from the founding Congress in the "Palace of the Popes", Avignon, that we would find our sport heading to Athens, after our spectacular baptism on the steps of the Opera House in Sydney, with 200,000 spectators lining the course for both the men’s and women’s events!

But we are more than just the Olympic Games. We have a life which goes on for 3 years, 11 months and three weeks outside the Games.

The World Cup Series is spectacular, but then so is the Duathlon, the Aquathlon, the Winter Triathlon and the Long Distance Triathlon. Those creators of ITU still actively involved in the happy family include Marisol Casado (ESP), Loreen Barnett (CAN), Dr. Doug Hiller (USA), Mark Sisson (USA), Bernard Saint-Jean (FRA) and Jef Konigs (BEL).

Ishigaki World Cup, Japan: Rated by the athletes in a questionnaire ballot as the best ITU World Cup event in 2003, the island in the Okinawa Sun lived up to its past reputation and produced a fine event. The course was more challenging than previous years with the addition of hills on the bike section.

Next year is the 10^th anniversary of the Ishigaki World cup and will feature lucrative incentives for the athletes thanks to the leadership of the popular mayor and Triathlon aficionado Dr. Ohama, in league with the Japan Triathlon Federation President and IOC member Chiharu Igaya.

Prior to the Ishigaki World Cup, Mr. Igaya and his better half, and wife, Akiko, staged a cherry blossom and saki tasting reception at a Buddhist Shrine in Tokyo. A wonderful time was had by all, in particular a dozen or so ambassadors in attendance.

At the athletes briefing in Ishigaki, a minute silence was observed following a eulogy to the departed Michel Gignoux.

Gamagori Site Visit: 12-13 April: A gracious invitation by Mayor Kimbara who had attended the Ishigaki World Cup was organized to review the progress of preparations for the 2005 World Championships.

The centre of the action is the brand new French-style Lido, set around the port, with swim in the enclosed harbour. Bike course is to the top of the Buddha hill, by far the steepest bike course in the history of triathlon – trust me.

The inspection team of TD Loreen Barnett, JTU Representatives Shin Otsuka, Tomoko Wada, Masao Nakayama and Kiriyo Suzuki, plus others were satisfied with the progress. A reception with the sponsors (Toyota) was more than satisfactory..

Mayor Kimbara will report to the Executive Board meeting of ITU in Madeira.

Tragic Bike Accident: German Triathlete: Dr. Klaus Mueller-Ott, President of the German Triathlon Federation (DTU) has reported the accident which occurred in April in Majorca to the Athlete Anitja Christ. She was 29 years old and struck by an automobile whilst training – she passed away shortly after.

Our most heartfelt condolences go to Anitja’s family and our friends in the DTU who are all deeply saddened.

Canadian Olympic Committee Centennial Congress: Montreal, 15-18 April: A fine Congress, lots of speakers including Gilbert Felli reporting on the Olympic Games, Athens, Turin, Beijing. Craig McClatchey, originally with Sydney 2000, now working for the IOC in Lausanne spoke on "How to organize an Olympic Games." And we thought a World Championships was difficult! Dick Pound, President of WADA spoke on the do’s and don’ts of doping in sport. This was a long weekend. I’m sure that Montreal is a beautiful city – from what I saw through the window of the airport shuttle bus.

Result of the "Proverb of the Day" competition in the last report: ."Dort vu men hot dikh lib, gey veynig vu men hot dikh faint, gey gor nit." From the Yiddish, "Go rarely where you are loved and never where you are hated." The winner was Manfred Bergman, Philately guru, Lausanne.

This week’s proverb, and affectionate conundrum, "ungilipollasintegral"

Visit by Paris 2012 Olympic Bid: A leader of the Paris 2012 bid made the trip to Vancouver to explain in detail the triathlon proposal for Paris – if they win.

Essar Gabriel graced us with his presence at the ITU office and a day of explanations and wonderful plans. The bid has the support of the newly elected opposition in the government of France and the Mayor of Paris, Mr. Delanoe.

Key for ITU is the cleansing of the Seine.

Quote of the Week: "Money for sport comes not from heaven, but from television!" IOC President, January 1996. "Plus ca change, plus c’ést la même chose."

Wales: The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) at its meeting last month in Dresden, under the leadership of its President Tamas Ajan, IOC member and Secretary General of the Hungarian National Olympic Committee admitted Wales as a member of IWF.

Brazil: Carlos Froes, President of the Brazil Triathlon Federation. Re-elected unanimously as the President of the Brazil Triathlon Federation. A team player….a patient leader, Carlos has done much to reconstruct this important federation after the problems associated with the previous non-leaders.

The emergence of serious elite athletes in Brazil including Carla Morena, Mariana Ohata, Sandra Soldan, Leandro Macedo, Juraci Moreira and Paulo Miyasiro is apt testimony to his work….all six of them have qualified for the Athens Olympic Games.

Carlos has the complete support of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and its President, IOC member and Olympic athlete, Carlos Nuzman. Congratulations President Froes….a member of "Team ITU"

Athens 2004: An amicable agreement has been reached with NBC President Dick Ebersol and ATHOC Chief Operating Officer Marton Simitsek, and ITU, to have a one lap swim as in Sydney 2000, for the Olympic event in Vouliagmeni.

This agreement will guarantee a worldwide Olympic television show for both the women’s and men’s competitions – August 25, 26.

New President: Swiss Triathlon Federation: Welcome to Werner Bhend, a banker and a good occupation for a Swiss. We expect him to guide the Federation to new Monte Rosa heights of success.

Swiss triathletes are a surprising lot – who would have guessed Sydney 2000 Brigette McMahon and Magali Messmer – gold and bronze medalists!

Any predictions for Athens anyone?

ITU Triathlon World Cup 2004: World Rankings After Two World Cup Events (Ishigaki and Mazatlan ITU World Cups):

2004 World Cup Standings after the Ishigaki and Mazatlan World Cups:

Elite Women:

Elite Men:

The IOC Executive Board has one sole women member out of 16 if we include the director general Urs Lacotte. The sole women is Gunilla Lindberg from Sweden, and a good friend of ITU … but one out of 16?

Then again there are currently 125 IOC Members, guess how many women? 12, now what is 12 as a percentage of 125? Not 20% is it?

Then again, we have the National Olympic Committees. 202 of them, how many women presidents? Guess! 4 only: Dominica: Rosanne Pringle-Pierre, Namibia: Agnes Tjongarero, Norway: Grethe Fossli (provisional), Netherlands: Erica Ferpstra. So, what’s 4 out of 202? No where near 20% is it?

Women and Sport Conference in Morocco: "Regret" for "Slow Pace" of Change excerpt from "Around The Rings": The third edition of the IOC’S Women and Sport Conference was held this week in Marrakech – and ended with a statement of regret over what the participants deemed as "the slow pace in implementing fully the action plan formulated by inter-governmental organizations and the lack of concrete, visible and legible actions at the grass roots level."

In more direct terms, under-representation of women in the ranks of leadership from the IOC down to the local level of sport shows little sign of improvement.

Number one of the list of recommendations emerging from the conference was an affirmation of the goals set in 1996 for women to hold 20% of the leadership positions on the IOC, international federations and national Olympic committees by 2005.

Few of the 250 organizations covered by that goal have come close to meeting it.

This year’s meeting drew more than 600 delegates from 137 countries, including IOC President Jacques Rogge.

"The IOC will continue in the future, as in the past, to strive to do even better so that women occupy the place they deserve in the Olympic Movement," he told the meeting.

With only one women – Gunilla Lindberg of Sweden—among the 14 members of the Executive Board, the IOC needs to add at least two more by 2005 to comply with its own stated goals.

Also on the agenda of the Marrakech conference: the Women & Sport Trophy for 2004. The prize went to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

"Since its creation in 1986, it has promoted the acceptance of women’s and girl’s right to play this sport and provided a worldwide example of the participation of women on the playing field as well as in leadership positions," says the award citation.

Athens Olympic Torch Relay: Gergely Markus, the ITU man in Athens, was given the honour of running in the Olympic torch relay in Greece prior to the torch leaving on its voyage around the world before returning to Athens for the opening ceremony on the 13^th of August. Gergely trained hard for his mission, with sleepless nights seeing himself dropping the torch, or the flame going out, or worse, burning his hair. Guess what, he had a perfect run, and received a replica of the Athens Olympic torch to keep. Not a bad souvenir to have! Congratulations Gergely Markus- Magyar Posta!

Gergely writes: "This year’s relay has more specialities: this is the first time, that the flame starts and also finishes in Greece, moreover the relay torch will touch all the five continents, including the previous Olympic cities. The flame was "born" on the 25^th of March in ancient Olympia in a framework of a big celebration. On the first six days it stays in Greece and will leave from Athens on the 31^st of March for it’s world tour, before it will return back to Greece on the beginning of July. We - the organizers – could take part on one of these first days……

We assembled early in the morning in the city of Kalamata. This town is about 4 hours drive from Athens on the Peloponesos Island, therefore I could not sleep the previous night, but now later I think it was because I was too excited to do so. We got a short briefing about the whole procedure we had to follow, got the uniform we had to wear and finally the torch, we could keep afterwards. A bus took everybody to each spot, which stopped every 500 meters. This was the distance each runner had to perform. Although I had to run outside the town, the beautiful surroundings compensated for the few "spectators" that I had, including the very good friend – Olympic Triathlon Technical Operations Manager, Thanos Nikopoulos. After a short wait the caravan arrived. I got the flame by holding up my torch. I started to run with a great feeling, smiling to the cameras located on a truck in front of me and to the flame in my hand. The 500 meters was gone very soon running with an escort from a local running club. I was closer and closer to the next lucky runner, the torches met and the flame continued it’s mission! To propagate the Olympic dream, the peace, the friendship and the humanity all over the world! While I was watching it going away, everybody congratulated from the cars passing with the long caravan, I started to believe, I took part in it………

Madeira: looking forward to seeing all of our ITU family friends there. Let me pause a moment and pay homage to the very recent past of Portugal.

"The Carnation Revolution" newspaper excerpt

Most of us remember where we were the day a bloodless uprising by army captains overthrew 30 years of the de facto dictatorship in Portugal. Around the world, television and newspaper images captured the explosion of freedom in the streets of Lisbon and the rest of the country. Portugal was in the news; it was the dawn of the new age.

The Carnation revolution of April 25, 1974, ushered in what has been described as the 3^rd Republic. It followed Antonio de Oliveira Salazar’s quasi-fascist corporation and social Catholicism that had replaced the first Republic of 1910-1933. Elections were held but no opposition members were ever elected during Salazar’s life. Torture by secret police was part of the state apparatus, yet Salazar kept Portugal out of the Second World War and gave refuge to over 100,000 Jews fleeing a horrific death at the hands of the Nazis. However, Salazar’s disastrous colonial African wars and oppression of the populace led to his demise. Following his incapacitation in 1968 (he died in 1970), Marcello Caetano, the Prime Minister, could not save the regime.

With the re-introduction of democracy following the establishment of a new constitution in 1976, Portugal joined the family of nations, entering the European Community in 1989. Many of its war resistors who had fled to France, Canada and the USA returned home. With grants from the EC, Portugal modernized its infrastructure and raised the standard of living. Today, citizens of Portugal enjoy similar or better social benefits than Canadians or Americans. Portugal has become a country of immigrants, not emigrants. There are three Russian language newspapers in Lisbon, and construction sites are full of Ukrainians, Croats, and Cape Verdean. Brazilians and Cubans staff cafes and hotels. How things have changed.

However, as Dr. Ferreira points out in this issue, democracy, freedom and liberty are fragile things; they need much care and attention or they will once again slip from our grasp, today in the guise of fighting terrorism. Despite its critics, the Carnation revolution showed the world the spirit of the Portuguese people, which created a model for the peaceful revolutions fo the 1980’s and 90’s. It also made Portugal a much better place for the future. Cherish it, study it, appreciate it and do not let it slip away.

A poem in memory of Portugal and Madeira by Helena de Sousa Freitas, of Vancouver. Dedicated to the carnation flower- Madeira-Ilha dos Flore.

O Cravo
A 25 de Abril de 1974
Festejou se o liberdade e o sonho,
Com hinos nos labios,
Com votos renovados de esperanca.
Com o Pais aberto a verdade,
E os bracos estendidos aos Herois,
As promessas e a confianca
Foi dia de luta, de lagrimas,
De adeus as armas, de acolhimento.
De um sorriso para uma certeza.
As prisoes e as torturas
Queriam se longe da lembranca
Pois agora reforcavam se os desejos
De uma Patria nova, Renascida,
De uma Patria nova Portuguesa!

"The Carnation" Cynthia Reis

In western society, the carnation is seen as a flower connected to matters of the heart. Usually given our on Valentines Day in reds and whites, carnations are a symbol of love and friendship. However, 30 years ago on the morning of April 25, 1974, the carnation took on a whole different meaning in Portugal. The revolution that took place in Lisbon, overtaking the 48 year old regime of Antonio Oliviera Salazar and Marcello Caetano, is one of the most significant if not the most significant event that has taken place in Portuguese history. The revolution was called the Carnation Revolution because of its peaceful execution with little bloodshed. Soldiers were seen on the street placing red carnations in the barrels of their rifles and citizens threw flowers out into the crowds. Since then, the carnation has become a symbol of peace, marking the switch from one of the longest dictatorships of the 20^th century to a liberal democracy, all without war.

The Carnation Revolution deserves to be remembered. On April 25, on this 30^th anniversary, pin on a red carnation and honour those who were courageous enough to stand up for what they believed in and made a difference in so many peoples lives.

Commemorating April25th is not simply remembering the past, but recognizing and paying homage to those who during many years risked their freedom, even their own lives, to put an end to Salazarism. In remembering April 25^th, we have to recognize that the liberties achieved could be limited at any moment.

The struggle for liberty is a daily one. Just as Christmas on December 25^th should not be the only day on which friendship between people should be celebrated, so too every day should be April 25^th. Let us commemorate April 25^th by continuing the struggle for the freedom and dignity of every human being on earth every single day.

"Portugal, a Brazilian Colony"-Pedro Cid: Wandering around the streets of Madeira you will eventually bump into a Brazilian. It might be a waiter at the neighborhood café or one of the 700,000 Brazilian tourists who visit Portugal every year. Portugal breathes Brazil. Portugal is, by far, the greatest consumer of Brazilian culture.

According to the latest statistics, there are now 100,00 Brazilians living legally in Portugal. This is due, mostly, to a new law signed in July 2003 by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, during Lula’s first trip to European countries.

For many Brazilians, Portugal has become a new America. In fact, some say that this new wave of migrants towards the terrinha, as Brazilians like to call Portugal, is connected to the strong barriers imposed by the US government in recent years to Brazilian citizens wishing to enter the United States and to the rippling tide o f anti-American feeling in Brazil right now.

Apart from some sporadic cases, most Brazilians actually make it in Portugal and adapt to Portuguese society. Many Brazilians are very successful, as the following names can attest: Ed Mota (publicity), Cardosa e Cunha (president of TAP-Air Portugal), Scolari (soccer coach) and Deco (soccer player), to name just a few.

Measuring Athletic Success- Why do we feel the need to compete?- Wendy Long, sport journalist

Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy took the Battle of the Sexes to sophisticated and entertaining heights on the movie screen.

In 1973, Billie Jean King and Bobbie Riggs were part of a hghly publicized and enormously popular Male Versus Female tilt on the tennis court, a contest King won in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

But is it possible for a woman athlete to compete against men without her effort being relegated to Battle of the Sexes hype or the whole exercise labeled as just another publicity stunt?

Athletes Briefing Madeira

An election for 2 men to the athletes committee will be held, 1 from Asia and 1 from Africa to fill vacancies exisitng.

The ITU 2003 World Cup trophies will be presented at the athletes post race banquet to Emma Snowsill, Australia and Vladomyr Polikarpenko, Ukraine, symbolizing the best triathletes of the year.

Greg Welch awarded the "Order of Australia" by the prime minister of the land "Down Under"- not bad for a gyproc wall plasterer. Fact is, Welchie has been with us since day one, and is by far the most consistent competitor and achiever in all of the modern multi sports. On top of that he has a heart as big as a lion, although it does send him messages to slow down from time to time! Congratulations to Greg, you deserve it. Should be an honorary member of ITU if you ask me anything?!

Back to Mazatlan, or commence a la commencement. A great race, the waves were a little scary, I tried to calm them down, the waves, not the athletes. But like King Canute trying to stem the tide in 1024, I failed. Next year we’ll have to try something else. Maybe a straight-line swim from the island offshore, with a big live screen TV show for the thousands of spectators we had last week.

A fine organization, Lucia Mijares is a wonder girl. I don’t believe she slept for 4 days and nights.

Exciting? I’ll say, the top 3 women, Carla Morena-Brazil, Anja Dittmer-Germany and Maxine Seear-Australia, finished within 5 seconds. In the men, the top 3 were within 6 seconds, Simon whitfield-Canada, Dimity Gaag-Kazakstan, and Hunter Kemper-USA. In the old days the winner occasionally had so much time in the lead they would walk to the finish line, soaking in the plaudits from the crowd… not anymore, we’ve come so far.

Prior to Mazatlan, at the Ishigaki World Cup, I suggested to the Chinese women athletes maybe, just maybe, they should focus on tactics and maybe even try a little harder. Guess what, in Mazatlan both Xing Lin and Wang Hongni were with the first group of six out of the swim. A good start, but guess what, Wang was first off the bike, and flying down the road into the run, like a jelly fish sliding across the ice, to finish 13^th overall, and probably qualify for Athens Olympics!

In the men, the "Glorious Greek" Vasilis Krommidas did the same thing. First out of the water, first off the bike. Fact is, he led all of the 40 km alone at the front. He faded a bit on the run, needs to lose a couple of grams maybe, but hey, I think he’s got Athens 2004 firmly in his sight, and the Chinese women are looking down the road to Beijing 2008 or may be even Athens 2004.

In the women’s race there were 9 countries represented in the top 10. In the men's, there were 7 in the top 10. Cosmopolitan I’d say, but you know what, they are all friends, buddies, mates, and that’s nice.

We owe a lot to Team ITU for the success of Mazatlan, Loreen Barnett T.D. and tireless worker, the Vancouver based TV crew, Pat Bell, Sean Cable, Alan Stewart, Ted Cannem, and Martin Perry. Live web site by Brian Mahony, the Celtic Tiger from the Republic of Ireland, as well as Jaime Cadaval from Mexico.

Adios Mazatlan-see you in Madeira! Les