3 Aussies and 1 great moment: World Athletics Gala in Monaco
German masters honcho Dieter Massin sends this classic shot from Sunday’s World Athletics Gala celebrating the world’s top track stars — including IAAF World Masters Athletes of the Year Peter Crombie and Marie Kay. Balding guy at left is fellow Aussie Stan Perkins, president of World Masters Athletics. IAAF noted: “Peter Crombie overcame knee surgery in 2009 and his doctor’s advice was to end his sports career. Competing at the world level since 1987, he is one of the most enduring and accomplished masters athletes of all time, winning 34 medals at World outdoor and 11 at World indoor championships. He is an athletic competitor for 50 consecutive years and has won over 80 national titles in all sprint distances, plus throws and jumps. .. . Marie Kay has competed at World championships for 15 years. She has been married for 30 years and is a mother of three, and a grandmother of four children.â€
Stan and masters stars Marie and Peter make an elegant trio in Monte Carlo.
12 Responses
Marie, you look wonderful, and what a performer you have been. Peter, why is it that so many men with that first name make a very nice appearance? By the way, your races with Steve Robbins in Sacramento this past summer were spectacular.
Monte Carlo?… really? So We’ll never have to hear of the WMA talk ever talk about a lack of funding. Do these Masters athletes pay out of their own pocket to fly and lodge in Monte Carlo?? It’s not exactly the Cleveland of Europe and I’m sure it’s a pretty penny for the athletes, or the WMA to pay for that tab. Very, very interesting.
Upon information and belief, this is an award that is given by the IAAF, so the funding probably comes out of their budget.
I suppose IAAF paid.
Yes, the trips are on the IAAF’s dime, or perhaps the IAF (a different group), which runs the Gala.
See the International Athletic Foundation:
http://www.athletic-foundation.org/en/world_athletics_gala_highlights.php
What is with you people? Two incredible masters’ athletes are acknowledged for their achievements in a setting with the best track and field athletes in the world. And what do you obsess on? Who paid for their trip! Why, I ask, is this “very, very interesting”?
Does Mr. Girouard really care who is picking up the tab? What’s important, and what we should be talking about, is the fact that the IAAF Gala recognized masters’ athletes at a gathering that included the best T&F athletes in the world.
In the real world, where masters’ athletes in World Championships are lucky to perform in front of 200 people, our sport doesn’t get many opportunities to “show off our best” under a large, global spotlight.
Stephen, You are correct that these two athletes are very deserving to be acknowledged for their achievements in Masters track and field and we all applaude their success, but in the end they were acknowledged in Monte Carlo. My post was not to take away from their accomplishments, but to point out there could have been a possibly less expensive way to do so in saving funds to use and actually promote T&F, or as you quoted, “Show off our best”, possibly helping other elite masters and open athletes around the world that may not be as fortunate to compete at World-wide meets and in doing so, creating a stronger field of athletes to actually promote the sport and get more than 200 people to show up and watch them compete as you stated. In only my personal opinion, showing off your best is to be done and witnessed on the track, ring or runway. If Ken had not have posted this article about the event, I wouldn’t have ever know that it had even taken place as I’m sure with many other T&F athletes around the world. How is that promoting under a “Global Spotlight”? It seems like a very expensive vacation to me at the cost of wherever the moneys are coming from to run the WMA/ IAAF. Aside from the cost of getting these two masters athletes to Monte Carlo, I’m sure Monaco didn’t give the WMA/IAAF an A.A.A. discounts on hotels for the entire WMA/IAAF organizers and committee, guests and other athletes or where the gala ceremony was to be held, food,transportation, ect. I’m not a travel expert or travel agent, but I’m guessing locations in Europe such as London or Brussels may have been quite a bit less expensive and still done in a quality manner with possibly more exposure in the press. That’s why I go back to my statement,”So We’ll never have to hear of the WMA/IAAF ever talk about a lack of funding”. These are tough times financially world-wide and I don’t think questioning the site of the gala to be unfair or a taking away for any of the deserving athletes, Open class or masters which were acknowledged at the ceremonies. If the WMA/IAAF are so well finanaced to spend their dollars or euros freely for in essence a large party, maybe focusing on the athletes themselves, competitions or better promotion of competitions could be a better way to go. In the end, the WMA/IAAF will spend as they see fit, but I shouldn’t expect or hear them claim poverty should times get tough anywhere in the near future. Now, I must get back to the the Baccarat table and finish my Martini (shaken of course) before it gets too warm and Fatima banks my roll…
Milton–Our masters “stars” were acknowledged in Monte Carlo because that’s where the IAAF annual meeting was held. And since most IAAF members are from Europe, I expect it’s cheaper to hold the meeting in Monte Carlo than in Denver.
London LESS expensive than Monte Carlo? Have you been to London lately? You can get rooms in Monte Carlo or Nice for $120/nite. You can’t rent a closet in London for that.
Re: publicity. I can’t speak for the Colorado papers but our Cleveland paper had coverage of the IAAF award ceremony. More importantly, all the T&F dignitaries who attended the IAAF meetings in Monte Carlo–and are frequently criticized for ignoring masters–got to see and meet two of our best. Consider it a “PR” opportunity for masters’ track.
Finally, I guess I can assume Milton that when you win the IAAF award as Masters’ Athlete of the Year that you’ll be declining the free trip to Monte Carlo!
Good grief, here we learn that our governing body shells out money to attract more participants to our beloved sport. And there we get free advertisement annually (imagine, Milton) when our very best masters are honored in Monte Carlo. Wolfgang Ritte of Germany shown next to Mike Boit? Phil Rascker, Earl Fee, Bill Collins, on and on. All honored, all shown in numerous publications around the world. All ambassadors of our sport, all going to Monte Carlo, all expenses paid. Wonderful!
I guess that’s where we differ, Stephen and Stefan. I believe athletes are ultimately honored on the track, ring or runway with their peers and competitors, not at a convention or stage while spending frivolously in doing so. But in the end, that’s where our ages make a difference. Good luck to both of you this upcoming 2011 season and I hope you get the ultimate honor of being in the spotlight you so very much admire and yearn for. In parting, and I’m sure you’ll comment negatively about this as well, the quote from the movie, “Cool Running”. John Candy as he spoke to his Jamaican team captain bobsledder about winning a medal at the 1988 Winter Olymic Games in the bobsled, “If you’re not enough without it, you’ll never be enough with it”. Yes, it’s a movie quote, but very appropriate in real life. Here’s In the hopes that you both make it to Monte Carlo next year!!
Nuts, crazy, totally funny. Me going to Monte Carlo in the context we are discussing? Dude, you’re way too optimistic. On the other hand, you’re giving me an idea. I would not mind flying First Class to Monte Carlo, renting a limousine and go out with Christine Arron, Blanka Vlassic, Emma Green, Carolina Kluft and Susanna Kallur. No, don’t worry, I can afford it, Martinis included.
…LOL!
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