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March 07, 2006

People's Republic Of China Confirms Entry For 2006 Pacific World Cup

National track and field teams from Canada and the People's Republic of China will again meet and compete for the Pacific World Cup in June.

Organizers of the 2006 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic, presenting the Pacific World Cup, confirmed today competitors from the People's Republic of China will compete in the 23rd annual track and field meet at Swangard Stadium. After sending a small delegation to compete in 2005 Chinese officials have indicated they are eager to send as many as 38 competitors and 12 officials to the June 8 meet in Burnaby.

"The Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International has long been the premier athletics event in Canada and it just got bigger," said Kim Young, chair of the Jerome meet management committee and vice-president of meet organizer Achilles International Track and Field Society. "This is extremely exciting news as we work to build on the good work and goodwill generated by what was historic participation by Chinese athletes at our 2005 meet."

The 2005 meet featured eight Chinese athletes competing against Canadian rivals for the inaugural Pacific World Cup, an international dual meet within the larger Jerome meet that saw Canada prevail to win the competition. The event marked the first time the People's Republic of China has fielded a national track and field team in Canada and the evening proved a compelling and competitive meeting of athletes representing the 2008 and 2010 Summer and Winter Olympic host nations.

The 2005 meet also attracted considerable media attention, including national and international television coverage. Meet organizers also confirmed today the 2006 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic, presenting the Pacific World Cup, will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and the ESPN Star network in Asia. ESPN Star has a reach of more than 70 countries.

It appears participation in the 2005 Jerome meet also paved the way for the People's Republic of China to consider other international forays after years of solely sending athletes to major events such as world championships and Olympic Games. In addition to competing at Swangard on June 8, Chinese officials also recently committed to sending a team to the August 19-20 Norwich Union International athletics meeting in Birmingham, England. That event will feature a quad meet format as China competes against Great Britain, Russia and the United States.

The People's Republic of China also plans to extend the national team visit to 12 days in B.C. this year to facilitate athlete participation in not only the June 8 Jerome meet, but also the three other meets in Abbotsford, Richmond and Victoria that make up the PacifiCanada track and field series.

"We expect fans and sponsors from around the Lower Mainland and Victoria will be drawn to this extraordinary opportunity," said Young.

The annual Jerome meet is presented by the Achilles Track and Field Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering international track and field in the Vancouver area.

For more information contact:
KIM YOUNG
(604) 327-6070 or 230-6491
kim.young@shaw.ca

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