Premiere Orienteering Success in Albania
The sport of orienteering was successfully introduced in Albania and its capital city Tirana on Monday, 25 February. Supported by the national Olympic committee, eighty athletes from a total of seven countries competed in the first ever orienteering race in the country - and the fastest of them was an Albanian.
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The sport of orienteering was successfully introduced in Albania and its
capital city Tirana on Monday, 25 February. Supported by the national
Olympic committee, eighty athletes from a total of seven countries competed
in the first ever orienteering race in the country - and the fastest of them
was an Albanian.
The event took place in the centrally situated Artificial Lake Park, not far from Tirana's main university and presidential palace. Nine-year old Ondra Vystavel of the Czech Republic was the first starter on the course of 2.7 kilometres on a brand new map, designed by Czech Jan Drbal. The oldest participants, around 80 years of age, were Scandinavian veterans in a big group headed by former World Champion Jorgen Martensson. For Martensson, Albania was the 85th country were he competed in orienteering. Tirana's Marathon Runners Club hosted the event by their club house and four well-trained Albanians took part, three of them trying the sportfor the very first time. The fourth, Edmond Bajraktari, was fastest of all the 80 orienteers, with a clear margin. Bajraktari is a former 1500 metres runner with a top time of 3.52, now living in Italy and competing in orienteering since 2005. Edmond Bajraktari's victory was good news for the Albanian television as well as for the national Olympic committee, both present at the race. The Albanian Olympic committee played an important part in the realisation of the event, which secretary general Stavri Bello regarded as a successful start for orienteering in the country. Foreign language students from the nearby university assisted the Olympic committee and the marathon club with the organisation. The race was part of the Mediterranean Open Championships pre-tour, with Italian Gabriele Viale - President of Park World Tour Italy - as the main organiser. Dottoressa Marilena Pinca rappresenting Puglia Region in Albania concluded the event by inviting everyone to sunny Puglia where the fourth edition of MOC kicks off with a prologue in Gravina di Ginosa on Thursday 27th febbruary. --- Source: Pressrelease from MOC. |
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