The 17th World Masters Athletics Championships began today in Riccione, Italy, but results of the first day’s events (including Day 1 of the decathlon and cross country) aren’t online. Not that I can find, anyway. Sigh. This page appears to be the results page. But no links are live yet. Last night, I wrote to meet director Lamberto Vacchi, asking where results would be posted. No reply yet. In the meantime, you can study this glossary of Italian track terms. If anyone knows where the results are posted, please send me a note. Keep the faith. We might even see some photo galleries from Riccione soon, too.

However, good news!
The WMA home page has a delightful photo of WMA President Cesare Beccalli with some local mayors — all dooded up for the Opening Ceremonies. (Remember, it’s all about the muckymucks, not the athletes.)
The page informs us: “Artists, folklore, singers and speeches marked the opening ceremony of the 16th World Masters Championships in Riccione (ITA). WMA President Cesare Beccalli (ITA) and LOC President Daniele Imola declared the Championships open. A breathtaking firework closed the ceremony after two hours.”
A sexier image appears on the Italian masters Web site. (A Brazilian athlete, apparently.)
On the downside, some cross country races were rescheduled. No reason given.
Here’s all we know:

New schedule for Cross Country
According to the decision of the Technical Meeting held today the Cross Country Competition not competed today will be held according to the following program
Saturday, September 8
08:00 h W 50 – 59
09:30 h W 35 – 49
10:45 h M 35 – 44
11:45 h M 45 – 54
13:00 h M 55 – 64
14:15 h M 65+
Lamberto Vacchi (OC Director)
Brian Keveaney (WMA Technical Delegate Non Stadia
(WMA – 04.09.2007)

Here’s a translation of the Italian site’s account of the Opening Ceremonies:

With the ceremony of opening, carried out yesterday evening to Riccione, has been opened seventeenth samples to you world-wide master. They have paraded for the ways of Riccione the representatives of the 96 present nations. The most colorful corteo has been vivacizzato from the traditional customs that some athlete has worn for the occasion. Made curious, very many tourists have asked information on the manifestation.
They are still many that do not know our world master. They remain surprises little when they learn that there is people of 87 years that attempt in the decathlon (like our “mythical” Bruno Sobrero) and that it is not never too much late in order to approach itself this fantastic sport.
In tail to paraded the blue athletes, received with great heat and applauses from the public present.
The paraded one has been concluded in Rome Large square, where on the theater box are go up the portabandiera of all the nations.
The present authorities for the ritual speeches have been: the three mayors of the accommodating countries (Riccione, Adriatic Misano and S. Giovanni in Marignano), Alberto Morini (the vicario vice president of the Fidal) and Cesar Beccalli (the president of the WMA, the world-wide master, let alone founding federation and symbol of the Italian athletics master).
Particularly touching the moment in which one young represented of the Judges and a representative of the Athletes (Enrico Saraceni) have recited the formula of the oath, in name of all the judges and present athletes.
And then the way to the dances: various shows of dance are alternated on the theater box. Music is an exceptional adhesive and a group of Puerto Ricans, with the rhythm of the sauce in the blood, has let to go, amused, in one mazurka inhabitant of Romagna.
To conclusion of the beautiful evening one scoppiettante artifice fire show, particularly appreciated from the numerous public.
In the photo, of R.Marchi, a present Brazilian athlete to the paraded one