On behalf of the IAAF, I am happy to write this message on the occasion of the
first ever Americas’ Combined Events Championships which will take place in
Havana, Cuba.
This new competition, which brings together athletes from Member Federations
in Consudatle (South America) and NACAC (North America, Central America
and Caribbean), is a creative and dynamic innovation which will help to promote
the combined events and has the IAAF’s full support.
The Americas have produced so many great champions in athletics that it would
be impossible to list them all, but the combined events are certainly worthy of a
new approach, especially since the current Olympic champion for decathlon,
Bryan Clay, is already a valuable role model for youngsters in his native USA.
These Championships are another example of the highly successful strategy of
development in these two areas, which focuses on talent identification but also
on high level competition for all age groups, starting in schools and ending up
with senior competition of international standard.
Finally, I would like to warmly congratulate my colleagues from the Cuban
athletics federation who are certainly maximising the opportunities offered by
the installation of a new Mondo track at the National Stadium in Havana. Not
only is Havana hosting this event in May, but also the 22nd edition of the CAC
Senior Championships in July. With these practical gestures, Cuba is extending
the hand of solidarity to all countries in the region, for the benefit of athletics.