1.
World Food Programme
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The World Food Programme is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and the worlds largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security. According to the WFP, it provides assistance to an average of 80 million people in 75 countries each year. From its headquarters in Rome and from more than 80 country offices around the world and it is a member of the United Nations Development Group and part of its Executive Committee. The WFP was formally established in 1963 by the FAO and the United Nations General Assembly on an experimental basis. In 1965, the programme was extended to a continuing basis, the WFP is governed by an Executive Board which consists of representatives from 36 member states. Ertharin Cousin is the current Executive Director, appointed jointly by the UN Secretary General and she heads the Secretariat of the WFP. The European Union is a permanent observer in the WFP and, as a major donor and its vision is a world in which every man, woman and child has access at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life. The WFP has a staff of about 11,500 people, the WFP strives to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, with the ultimate goal in mind of eliminating the need for food aid itself. Food-for-work programmes help promote environmental and economic stability and agricultural production, in 2013, the WFP reached 80.9 million people in 75 countries and provided 3.1 million tonnes of food, including nutritionally improved products such as Plumpysup, Plumpydoz, and Supercereal Plus. 7.8 million malnourished children received special support in 2013. The WFP has scaled up its use of cash and vouchers as food assistance tools,7.9 million people received assistance through cash or voucher programmes in 2013. In the same year, the WFP purchased food in 91 countries, among its other activities, the WFP has coordinated the five-year Purchase for Progress pilot project. Launched in September 2008, P4P assists smallholder farmers by offering opportunities to access agricultural markets. The project resulted in 366,000 metric tons of food produced and generated more than $148 million in income for its smallholder farmers. The WFP focuses its food assistance on those who are most vulnerable to hunger, which most frequently means women, children, the sick and the elderly. School-feeding and/or take-home ration programmes in 71 countries help students focus on their studies and encourage parents to send their children, especially girls, the WFP operations are funded by voluntary donations from world governments, corporations and private donors. The organizations administrative costs are only seven percent—one of the lowest and best among aid agencies, in 2011, the WFPs total revenue was $3.73 billion. From 2008-2012, private donors donated around $500 million, the Fast Information Technology and Telecommunications Emergency and Support Team is a small, elite, technical team of emergency responders within the IT division of the World Food Programme
2.
Kenya
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Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in Africa and a founding member of the East African Community. Its capital and largest city is Nairobi and it is bordered by Tanzania to the south and southwest, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north-east. Kenya covers 581,309 km2, and had a population of approximately 48 million people in January 2017, Kenya has a warm and humid tropical climate on its Indian Ocean coastline. The climate is cooler in the grasslands around the capital city, Nairobi, and especially closer to Mount Kenya. Further inland are highlands in Central and Rift Valley regions where tea, in the West are Nyanza and Western regions, there is an equatorial, hot and dry climate which becomes humid around Lake Victoria, the largest tropical fresh-water lake in the world. This gives way to temperate and forested areas in the neighbouring western region. The north-eastern regions along the border with Somalia and Ethiopia are arid and semi-arid areas with near-desert landscapes, Kenya is known for its world class athletes in track and field and rugby. The African Great Lakes region, which Kenya is a part of, has been inhabited by humans since the Lower Paleolithic period, by the first millennium AD, the Bantu expansion had reached the area from West-Central Africa. Bantu and Nilotic populations together constitute around 97% of the nations residents, European and Arab presence in coastal Mombasa dates to the Early Modern period, European exploration of the interior began in the 19th century. The British Empire established the East Africa Protectorate in 1895, which starting in 1920 gave way to the Kenya Colony, Kenya obtained independence in December 1963. Following a referendum in August 2010 and adoption of a new constitution, Kenya is now divided into 47 semi-autonomous counties, the capital, Nairobi, is a regional commercial hub. The economy of Kenya is the largest by GDP in East, agriculture is a major employer, the country traditionally exports tea and coffee and has more recently begun to export fresh flowers to Europe. The service industry is also an economic driver. Additionally, Kenya is a member of the East African Community trading bloc, the Republic of Kenya is named after Mount Kenya. The origin of the name Kenya is not clear, but perhaps linked to the Kikuyu, Embu and Kamba words Kirinyaga, Kirenyaa, if so, then the British may not so much have mispronounced it, as misspelled it. In the 19th century, the German explorer Johann Ludwig Krapf was staying with the Bantu Kamba people when he first spotted the mountain. On asking for the name of the mountain, he was told Kĩ-Nyaa or Kĩĩma- Kĩĩnyaa probably because the pattern of black rock, the Agikuyu, who inhabit the slopes of Mt. Kenya, call it Kĩrĩma Kĩrĩnyaga in Kikuyu, which is quite similar to the Kamba name. Ludwig Krapf recorded the name as both Kenia and Kegnia believed by most to be a corruption of the Kamba version, others say that this was—on the contrary—a very precise notation of a correct African pronunciation /ˈkɛnjə/
3.
Summer Olympic Games
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The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad, first held in 1896, is an international multi-sport event that is hosted by a different city every four years. The most recent Olympics were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the International Olympic Committee organizes the games and oversees the host citys preparations. In each Olympic event, gold medals are awarded for first place, silver medals are awarded for second place, and bronze medals are awarded for third, the Winter Olympic Games were created due to the success of the Summer Olympics. The Olympics have increased in scope from a 42-event competition with fewer than 250 male competitors from 14 nations in 1896 to 302 events with 10,768 competitors from 204 nations in 2012, eighteen countries have hosted the Summer Olympics. The United States has hosted four Summer Olympics, more than any other nation, four cities have hosted two Summer Olympics, Athens, Paris, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. Tokyo is the first city outside of the Western world to host the Summer Olympics multiple times, asia has hosted the Summer Olympics four times in Japan, South Korea, and China. The only Summer Olympics held in the Southern Hemisphere have been in Australia, the 2016 Games are the first Summer Olympics to be held in South America and the first to be held during the local winter season. Africa has yet to host a Summer Olympics, only five countries—Greece, Australia, France, Great Britain, and Switzerland—have been represented at every Summer Olympic Games. The only country to have won at least one medal at every Summer Olympic Games is Great Britain. The United States leads the medal table. Qualification rules for each of the Olympic sports are set by the International Sports Federations that governs that sports international competition, for individual sports, competitors typically qualify through attaining a certain place in a major international event or on the IFs ranking list. There is a rule that maximum three individual athletes may represent each nation per competition. Nations most often qualify teams for team sports through continental qualifying tournaments, each nation may be represented by no more than one team per competition a team is two people in some sports. The United States has hosted four Summer Olympic Games, more than any other nation, the United Kingdom hosted the 2012 Olympic Games, its third Summer Olympic Games, in its capital London, making London the first city to host the Summer Olympic Games three times. Australia, France, Germany, Greece, and Japan have all hosted the Summer Olympic Games twice. Other countries that have hosted the Summer Olympics are Belgium, Brazil, China, Canada, Finland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, the Soviet Union, asia has hosted the Summer Olympics three times and will host again in 2020. In 2016, Rio de Janeiro hosted the first Summer Olympics in South America, three cities have hosted two Summer Olympic Games, Los Angeles, Paris, and Athens. Stockholm has hosted events at two Summer Olympic Games, having hosted the games in 1912 and the events at the 1956 Summer Olympics—which they are usually listed as jointly hosting
4.
1996 Summer Olympics
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A record 197 nations, all current IOC member nations, took part in the Games, comprising 10,318 athletes. The 1996 Summer Games were the first to be staged in a different year from the Winter Games, Atlanta became the fifth American city to host the Olympic Games and the third to hold a Summer Olympic Games. Atlanta was selected on September 18,1990, in Tokyo, Japan, over Athens, Belgrade, Manchester, Melbourne, and Toronto at the 96th IOC Session. Atlantas bid to host the Summer Games that began in 1987 was considered a long-shot and this would be Torontos fourth failed attempt since 1960. The Athens bid was based on the fact that 1996 marked 100 years since the first Summer Games in Greece in 1896, though Athens would eventually host the 2004 Summer Olympics. The Oxford Olympics Study 2016 estimates the outturn cost of the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics at USD4.1 billion in 2015-dollars and cost overrun at 151% in real terms. This includes sports-related costs only, that is, operational costs incurred by the committee for the purpose of staging the Games. The competition venues, the Olympic village, international broadcast center, and media and press center, which are required to host the Games. The cost and cost overrun for Atlanta 1996 compares with costs of USD4.6 billion, average cost for the Summer Games since 1960 is USD5.2 billion, average cost overrun is 176%. The 1996 Olympics was predicated on the model established by the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The cost to stage the Games was US$1.8 billion, to pay for the games, Atlanta relied on commercial sponsorship and ticket sales, resulting in a profit of $10 million. Events of the 1996 Games were held in a variety of areas, a number were held within the Olympic Ring, a 3 mi circle from the center of Atlanta. Others were held at Stone Mountain, about 20 miles outside of the city, to broaden ticket sales, other events, such as soccer, occurred in various cities in the Southeast. The opening ceremony featured Céline Dion singing The Power of the Dream, the mascot for the Olympiad was an abstract, animated character named Izzy. In contrast to the tradition of mascots of national or regional significance in the city hosting the Olympiad, Izzy was an amorphous. The 1996 Olympics were the first to have two separate opening ceremony events, Savannah, because of its geographical separation from Atlanta, had its own opening ceremonies on July 18,1996. The event featured Worldwide Connection, a composed by Savannah native Jeffrey Reed and a concert by Trisha Yearwood. Atlantas Olympic slogan Come Celebrate Our Dream was written by Jack Arogeti, the slogan was selected from more than 5,000 submitted by the public to the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
5.
2000 Summer Olympics
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It was the second time that the Summer Olympics were held in Australia, and also the Southern Hemisphere, the first being in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1956. Sydney was selected as the host city for the 2000 games in 1993, the United States won the most medals with 93, while Australia came in 4th with 58. The games cost was estimated to be A$6.6 billion, the Games received universal acclaim, with the organisation, volunteers, sportsmanship and Australian public being lauded in the international media. Bill Bryson from The Times called the Sydney Games one of the most successful events on the world stage, admit there can never be a better Olympic Games, and be done with it, as Sydney was both exceptional and the best. These were the final Olympic Games under the IOC presidency of Juan Antonio Samaranch and these were also the second Olympic Games to be held in spring. The final medal tally was led by the United States, followed by Russia, several World and Olympic records were broken during the games. With little or no controversies, the games were deemed successful with the rising standard of competition amongst nations across the world. The Australian city of Melbourne had lost out to Atlanta for the 1996 Summer Olympics four years earlier, the Oxford Olympics Study 2016 estimates the outturn cost of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics at USD5 billion in 2015-dollars and cost overrun at 90% in real terms. This includes sports-related costs only, that is, operational costs incurred by the committee for the purpose of staging the Games. The competition venues, the Olympic village, international broadcast center, and media and press center, which are required to host the Games. The cost and cost overrun for Sydney 2000 compares with a cost of USD4.6 billion, average cost for the Summer Games since 1960 is USD5.2 billion, average cost overrun is 176%. In 2000, the Auditor-General of New South Wales reported that the Sydney Games cost A$6.6 billion, many venues were constructed in the Sydney Olympic Park, which failed in the years immediately following the Olympics to meet the expected bookings to meet upkeep expenses. In the years leading up to the games, funds were shifted from education and it has been estimated that the economic impact of the 2000 Olympics was that A$2.1 billion has been shaved from public consumption. Economic growth was not stimulated to a net benefit and in the years after 2000, in the years after the games, infrastructure issues have been of growing concern to citizens, especially those in the western suburbs of Sydney. Proposed rail links to Sydneys west have been estimated to cost in the order of magnitude as the public expenditure on the games. Although the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony was not scheduled until 15 September, among the pre-ceremony fixtures, host nation Australia lost 1–0 to Italy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which was the main stadium for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The opening ceremony began with a tribute to the Australian pastoral heritage of the Australian stockmen and it was produced and filmed by Sydney Olympic Broadcasting Organisation and the home nation broadcaster, Channel 7. This was introduced by a rider, Steve Jefferys
6.
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
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The IAAF World Championships, commonly referred to as the World Championships in Athletics, is a biennial athletics event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Originally held every four years, first in 1983, the current two-year cycle began in 1991, the idea of having an Athletics World Championships was around well before the competitions first event in 1983. In 1913, the IAAF decided that the Olympic Games would serve as the World Championships for athletics and this was considered suitable for over 50 years until in the late 1960s the desire of many IAAF members to have their own World Championships began to grow. In 1976 at the IAAF Council Meeting in Puerto Rico an Athletics World Championships separate from the Olympic Games was approved, two IAAF world championship events preceded the inaugural edition of the World Championships in Athletics in 1983. Four years later, the 1980 World Championships contained only two newly approved womens events, neither of which featured on the programme for the 1980 Summer Olympics, over the years the competition has grown in size. In 1983 an estimated 1,300 athletes from 154 countries participated, by the 2003 competition, in Paris, it had grown to 1,907 athletes from 203 countries with coverage being transmitted to 179 different countries. There has also been a change in composition over the years, with new events, all for women. By 2005, the differences were mens competition in the 50 km walk. The following list shows when new events were added for the first time,1987, womens 10,000 m and 10 km walk were added. 1993, womens triple jump was added,1995, womens 5000 m was added, replacing the 3000 m race. 1999, womens pole vault and hammer were added and the womens 20 km walk replaced the 10 km walk,2005, womens 3000 m steeplechase was added. Updated after 2015 Championships Note, Germany refers both to the former West Germany and the unified Federal Republic of Germany, the opening and closing ceremonies of the 8th IAAF World Championships held in Edmonton in 2001 were broadcast live to over 200 countries. The event included the mens marathon, and featured a thousand voice choir, men There are fifteen athletes who have won at least six medals. Women There are thirteen athletes who have won at least six medals, There are eighteen athletes that competed in at least eight editions
7.
1995 World Championships in Athletics
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The 5th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden on 5–13 August 1995. This edition featured 1804 athletes from 191 nations and this competition saw the women run the 5000 m event at the World Championships for the first time. The race replaced the 3000 m event which had run at all previous World Championships. This fate Sweden shares only with Canada and South Korea
8.
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
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IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations, it was inaugurated in 1973 and it was an annual competition until 2011, when the IAAF changed it to a biennial event. Traditionally, the World Cross Country Championships consisted of four races, one each for men and for women, scoring was done for individuals and for national teams. In the team competition, the positions of the top six scorers from a team of up to nine are summed for the men and women, respectively. For the junior races, the top three from a team of up to four are scored, the year 1998 saw the introduction of two new events at the World Cross Country Championships, a short race for men and a short race for women. The last time these 4 km races were held was 2006, in an incredible show of dominance, the senior mens team race has been won by Ethiopia or Kenya every year since 1981 in both the short and long races. These nations have enjoyed a similar strangle-hold on the mens races since 1982. In the senior mens 12 km race, Kenya won the championships for an astounding 18 years in a row, from 1986 through 2003. Likewise on the side, only one other nation has won the long team race since 1991, Portugal. These African nations were not quite so dominant in the short races, tirunesh Dibaba was also once the junior womens champion. Many consider the World Cross Country Championships to be the most difficult races to win, at most major championships, the worlds best distance runners are separated into a few races, i. e.3000 m Steeplechase,5000 m, and 10,000 m. However, in the absence of the short races, the World Cross Country Championships pit all runners against one another in only one race. Thus, the competition is quite fierce, numerous other champions have medalled at the Olympic Games or the World Championships, or have set World Records. In the 206th IAAF Council Meeting, held after the 2016 Summer Olympics, the council decided to add a mixed-gender relay race to the World Cross Country Championships schedule – a first for the event
9.
1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
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The 1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on March 23,1997. The races were held at the Parco del Valentino in Torino, a report of the event was given in the New York Times, in the Herald, and for the IAAF. Complete results for men, junior men, senior women, junior women, medallists. For full event details see 1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior mens race †, an unofficial count yields the participation of 725 athletes from 72 countries. This is in agreement with the numbers as published. Although announced, athletes from Sierra Leone did not show
10.
1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
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The 1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on March 21/22,1998. The races were held at the Menara district in Marrakech, Morocco, reports of the event were given in the New York Times, in the Herald, and for the IAAF. Note, Totals include both individual and team medals, with medals in the team competition counting as one medal, an unofficial count yields the participation of 707 athletes from 66 countries. This is in agreement with the numbers as published
11.
1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
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The 1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on March 27/28,1999. The races were held at the Barnett Demesne/Queen’s University Playing Fields in Belfast, reports of the event were given in the New York Times, in the Herald, and for the IAAF. Note, Totals include both individual and team medals, with medals in the team competition counting as one medal, an unofficial count yields the participation of 759 athletes from 66 countries. This is in agreement with the numbers as published. The announced athlete from Equatorial Guinea did not show
12.
2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
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The 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on March 18/19,2000. The races were held at the Sporting Complex in Vilamoura, Portugal, reports of the event were given in the New York Times, in the Herald, and for the IAAF. An unofficial count yields the participation of 805 athletes from 76 countries, the announced athletes from Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Iran, and Trinidad and Tobago did not show
13.
IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
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The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships is an annual half marathon competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was contested from 1992 to 2005, and replaced by the IAAF World Road Running Championships, after a second edition of the Road Running Championships, which was over the half marathon distance, it reverted to the original name of the World Half Marathon Championships. Key The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was first held in 1992 and it comprised three races, the mens race, the womens race and the junior mens race. Furthermore, a competition was held in each category, with the winners being decided by combining the performances of a countrys top three finishers. The country with the lowest aggregate time won the team competition, the junior mens race was held in only the first and second editions, and was removed from the programme from 1994 onwards. The competition went largely unchanged until 2006, when the competition was renamed as the IAAF World Road Running Championships, aside from the name change, the significant difference was the distance of the race, changing from a half marathon to a 20 kilometres road race. The 20 km race featured only at the 2006 edition, the competition is generally held every October. Runners compete on public roads which have closed off to traffic specifically for the event. Prize money varies from US$30,000 to US$3000, key †, In 2009, the team from Russia was initially ranked 3rd, but fell behind Japan after the disqualification of Inga Abitova. Her competition results were annulled, beginning October 10,2009, because of breaking anti-doping regulations
14.
1999 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
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The 8th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held on October 3,1999, in the city of Palermo, Italy. A total of 192 athletes,119 men and 73 women, the course was traced through the historical centre of the town with the start/finish line on the Foro Italico. A detailed report on the event and an appraisal of the results was given, †, Florina Pana from Romania was initially 4th, but tested positive for nandrolone and disqualified. The participation of 192 athletes from 48 countries is reported, although announced, athletes from Equatorial Guinea, Moldova, Senegal, and Zambia did not show
15.
2000 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
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The 9th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held on November 12,2000 in the city of Veracruz, Mexico. A total of 182 athletes,121 men and 61 women, detailed reports on the event and an appraisal of the results was given. The participation of 182 athletes from 52 countries is reported
16.
Long distance runner
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Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by a phase in which all feet are above the ground. The term running can refer to any of a variety of speeds ranging from jogging to sprinting and it is assumed that the ancestors of mankind developed the ability to run for long distances about 2.6 million years ago, probably in order to hunt animals. Competitive running grew out of religious festivals in various areas, records of competitive racing date back to the Tailteann Games in Ireland in 1829 BCE, while the first recorded Olympic Games took place in 776 BCE. Running has been described as the worlds most accessible sport and it is thought that human running evolved at least four and a half million years ago out of the ability of the ape-like Australopithecus, an early ancestor of humans, to walk upright on two legs. The theory as first proposed used comparative physiological evidence and the habits of animals when running, indicating the likelihood of this activity as a successful hunting method. Further evidence from observation of modern-day hunting practice also indicated this likelihood, according to Sears scientific investigation of the Nariokotome Skeleton provided further evidence for the Carrier theory. Competitive running grew out of religious festivals in various such as Greece, Egypt, Asia. The Tailteann Games, an Irish sporting festival in honor of the goddess Tailtiu, dates back to 1829 BCE, the origins of the Olympics and Marathon running are shrouded by myth and legend, though the first recorded games took place in 776 BCE. Seeing that they were moving and running, from their running nature they were called Gods or runners. Running gait can be divided into two phases in regard to the extremity, stance and swing. These can be divided into absorption, propulsion, initial swing. Due to the nature of running gait, no certain point is assumed to be the beginning. However, for simplicity it will be assumed that absorption and footstrike mark the beginning of the cycle in a body already in motion. Footstrike occurs when a portion of the foot makes initial contact with the ground. Common footstrike types include forefoot, midfoot and heel strike types and these are characterized by initial contact of the ball of the foot, ball and heel of the foot simultaneously and heel of the foot respectively. During this time the hip joint is undergoing extension from being in maximal flexion from the swing phase. For proper force absorption, the joint should be flexed upon footstrike
17.
Marathon
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The marathon is a long-distance running race with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres, usually run as a road race. The event was instituted in commemoration of the run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens. The marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896, more than 800 marathons are held throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes as larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants. The name Marathon comes from the legend of Philippides or Pheidippides and it is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming νενικήκαμεν, before collapsing and dying. Lucian of Samosata also gives the story, but names the runner Philippides, there is debate about the historical accuracy of this legend. In some Herodotus manuscripts, the name of the runner between Athens and Sparta is given as Philippides, in 1879, Robert Browning wrote the poem Pheidippides. Brownings poem, his story, became part of late 19th century popular culture and was accepted as a historic legend. This route, as it existed when the Olympics were revived in 1896, was approximately 40 kilometres long, and this route is considerably shorter, some 35 kilometres, but includes a very steep initial climb of more than 5 kilometres. When the modern Olympics began in 1896, the initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, the idea of a marathon race came from Michel Bréal, who wanted the event to feature in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This idea was supported by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics. The Greeks staged a race for the Olympic marathon on 10 March 1896 that was won by Charilaos Vasilakos in 3 hours and 18 minutes. The winner of the first Olympic marathon, on 10 April 1896, was Spyridon Louis, the marathon of the 2004 Summer Olympics was run on the traditional route from Marathon to Athens, ending at Panathinaiko Stadium, the venue for the 1896 Summer Olympics. The womens marathon was introduced at the 1984 Summer Olympics and was won by Joan Benoit of the United States with a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and 52 seconds. It has become a tradition for the mens Olympic marathon to be the last event of the athletics calendar, often, the mens marathon medals are awarded during the closing ceremony. The Olympic mens record is 2,06,32, set at the 2008 Summer Olympics by Samuel Kamau Wanjiru of Kenya, the Olympic womens record is 2,23,07, set at the 2012 Summer Olympics by Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia. The mens London 2012 Summer Olympic marathon winner was Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda, per capita, the Kalenjin ethnic group of Rift Valley Province in Kenya has produced a highly disproportionate share of marathon and track-and-field winners. Johnny Hayes victory at the 1908 Summer Olympics contributed to the growth of long-distance running and marathoning in the United States. Later that year, races around the season including the Empire City Marathon held on New Years Day 1909 in Yonkers, New York
18.
Cross country running
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Cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. Sometimes the runners are referred to as harriers, the course, typically 4–12 kilometres long, may include surfaces of grass, and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road. It is both an individual and a sport, runners are judged on individual times and teams by a points-scoring method. Cross country running is one of the disciplines under the sport of athletics. Although open-air running competitions are pre-historic, the rules and traditions of cross country racing emerged in Britain, the English championship became the first national competition in 1876 and the International Cross Country Championships was held for the first time in 1903. Since 1973 the foremost elite competition has been the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Cross country courses are laid out on an open or woodland area. The IAAF recommends that courses be grass-covered, and have rolling terrain with frequent, courses consist of one or more loops, with a long straight at the start and another leading to the finish line. Because of variations in conditions, international standardization of cross country courses is impossible, part of cross country runnings appeal is the natural and distinct characteristics of each venues terrain and weather. Terrain can vary from open fields to forest hills and even across rivers and it also includes running down and up hills. According to the IAAF, a cross country course has a loop of 1,750 to 2,000 metres laid out on an open or wooded land. It should be covered by grass, as much as possible, while it is perfectly acceptable for local conditions to make dirt or snow the primary surface, courses should minimize running on roads or other macadamized paths. Parks and golf courses often provide suitable locations, a course at least 5 metres full allows competitors to pass others during the race. Clear markings keep competitors from making wrong turns, and spectators from interfering with the competition, markings may include tape or ribbon on both sides of the course, chalk or paint on the ground, or cones. Some classes use colored flags to indicate directions, red flags for left turns, yellow flags for right turns, courses also commonly include distance markings, usually at each kilometer or each mile. The course should have 400 to 1,200 m of level terrain before the first turn, to reduce contact, however, many courses at smaller competitions have their first turn after a much shorter distance. Courses for international competitions consist of a loop between 1750 and 2000 meters, athletes complete three to six loops, depending on the race. Senior men compete on a 12-kilometre course, senior women and junior men compete on an 8-kilometre course. Junior women compete on a 6-kilometre course, in the United States, college men typically compete on 8 km or 10 km courses, while college women race for 5 km or 6 km
19.
Baringo County
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Baringo County is one of the 47 Counties of Kenya. It is located in the former Rift Valley Province and its headquarters and largest town is Kabarnet. The county is home to Lake Baringo and it covers an area of 8, 655s square km. Baringo County lies between Latitudes 00 degrees 13 South and 1 degree 40 north and Longitudes 35 degrees 36 and 36 degrees 30 East, the county has a population of 555,561 and an area of 11,075.3 km2. The county is occupied by the Tugen, Pokot and Njemps, a sizeable population of Nubians is found in Eldama-Ravine. Christianity is the most practiced religion in the county, Baringo county has many tribes including Tugens, Njemps, Pokots, Turkanas, Kikuyus, Numbians and Kisiis The County Governor is Benjamin Cheboi and is deputized by Engineer Mathew Tuitoek. The Senator is Gideon Moi while the County Women is Grace Kiptui, the County Executive Committee consists of the following, The economy of the County is mainly agro-based. The main food crops grown are maize, pigeon peas, beans, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, sorghum, cassava and finger millet while the cash crops are coffee, cotton, macadamia, livestock products include honey, beef, mutton as well as hides and skins. However, little value addition is done to these products, Major urban centres in the county are, Kabarnet, Eldama Ravine, Marigat, Mogotio, Kabartonjo and Chemolingot Major attraction sites are 1. At the shores of Lake Bogoria are more than two millions lesser flamingoes,350 bird species, Lake Baringo Snake Park has many snake species such as the Black Mamba, Puff Adder, Boomslang and Spitting Cobra, Monitor Lizards, Crocodiles and Tortoises. Major tourist hotels in the county are,1, Lake Bogoria Hotel and Spa Resort. The county headquarters is linked to Nakuru and Eldoret by class C roads which fall under the Kenya National Highways Authority
20.
Rift Valley Province
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Rift Valley Province of Kenya, bordering Uganda, was one of Kenyas 8 provinces, before the Kenyan general election,2013. Rift Valley Province was the largest and one of the most economically important provinces in Kenya and it was dominated by the Kenya Rift Valley which passes through it and gives the province its name. The bulk of the population is a strip between former Nairobi and Nyanza Province. The capital was the town of Nakuru, as of March 2013 after the Kenyan general election,2013, the Province was divided into counties and Rift Valley Province was no more. The Great Rift Valley runs south through Kenya from Lake Turkana in the north and has several geographical features. A large part of Kenya is underlain by Precambrian basement, while the Kenya rift basin hosts Tertiary volcanics that cover Mesozoic sediments, the sedimentary basins evolved along the Anza trough during the Late Paleozoic to Early Tertiary times through extension tectonics during the major Gondwanaland breakup. In the Miocene Period the region underwent intermittent uplift and subsidence along major boundary faults accompanied by the outpouring of lava flows. The Anza trough intersects the modern rift valley in the area of Lake Turkana, rifting still continues today, primarily in the north, where active volcanoes are more plentiful. The highlands provide adequate rainfall for farming and agriculture which is the base of the residents of the Rift Valley. Tea from the highlands in the Kericho district enjoy a worldwide reputation, the full economic potential of the Rift Valley region is, however, far from fully exploited, though the current growth in population and improved education may change this in a near future. The Rift Valley is home to various communities, the people of the Rift Valley are a mesh work of different ethnic identities, and the Kalenjin and the Maasai are two of the best known ethnic groups. Most of Kenyas top runners comes from the Kalenjin community, the Maasai people have the most recognizable cultural identity, both nationally and internationally, and serve as Kenyas international cultural symbol. Kajiado County Kericho County Kerio River Kimana Logumukum Narok County Trans-Nzoia County Turkana County Uasin Gishu County Media related to Rift Valley Province at Wikimedia Commons
21.
1500 metres
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The 1500 metres or 1, 500-metre run is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896, the demands of the race are similar to that of the 800 metres, but with a slightly higher emphasis on aerobic endurance and a slightly lower sprint speed requirement. The 1500 metre race is predominantly aerobic, but anaerobic conditioning is also required, each lap run during the world-record race run by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 1998 in Rome, Italy averaged just under 55 seconds. 1,500 metres is three and three-quarter laps around a 400-metre track, in the Modern Olympic Games, the mens 1, 500-metre race has been contested from the beginning, and at every Olympic Games since. The first winner, in 1896, was Edwin Flack of Australia, the womens 1, 500-metre race was first added to the Summer Olympics in 1972, and the winner of the first gold medal was Lyudmila Bragina of the Soviet Union. During the Olympic Games of 1972 through 2008, the womens 1, 500-metre race has won by three Soviets plus one Russian, one Italian, one Romanian, one Briton, one Kenyan. The 2012 Olympic results are still undecided as a result of doping cases. The best womens times for the race were set by Chinese runners. At least one of those top Chinese athletes has admitted to being part of a doping program, the womens record was finally surpassed by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in 2015. Which distance is used depends on which state the school is in. The person who wins the race is behind watching Correct as of November 2016. The world records for the distance in swimming for men are 14,31.02 by Sun Yang,14,08.06 by Gregorio Paltrinieri, and by women 15,25.48 by Katie Ledecky, and 15,19.71 by Mireia Belmonte García. The world records for the distance in speed skating are 1,41.04 by Shani Davis and 1,50.85 by Heather Richardson-Bergsma, IAAF list of 1500-metres records in XML Statistics
22.
Lisbon Half Marathon
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Lisbon Half Marathon is an annual international half marathon competition which is contested every March in Lisbon, Portugal. It carries IAAF Gold Label Road Race status, the mens course record, set by Zersenay Tadese in 2010, is also the world record for the half marathon distance. Kenyan runners have been successful in the competition, accounting for over half of the total winners. The Lisbon Half Marathon is not to be confused with Portugal Half Marathon, first held in 1991, the race has consistently delivered fast winning times. The course was judged as non-permissible for records until 2008, in year the organisers changed the elite course to allow for records. The new course begins at sea level on the side of the river Tagus. The current elite course of the marathon begins in a small town on the north bank of the Tagus, no longer crossing the bridge. Heading eastwards towards the city centre, the passes the docks and traces a route alongside much of the citys historical architecture, including the Belém Tower. From 2008 onwards, the set aside a €50,000 prize pot for any athlete breaking the world record over the half marathon distance. Another strong field was assembled in 2010 and Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea broke both the 20 kilometres and half marathon world records in his winning run, energias de Portugal has sponsored the competition for a number of years. Key, Course record Short or assisted course Lisbon Marathon Portugal Half Marathon List of winners Krol, Maarten
23.
Saint Silvester Road Race
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The Saint Silvester Road Race is a long-distance running event, the oldest and most prestigious street race in Brazil. Regarded as the international event in Latin American athletics, the Brazilian competition is held yearly in the city of São Paulo on December 31. This day is Saint Silvesters Day, as it is the day in which the Catholic saint, São Paulos race was originally known as a marathon, although the course of the race, whose length has varied considerably over the years, was never that of a full marathon. Because of that, the organization dropped the term marathon, starting to refer to the event as a race. Cásper Líbero, a millionaire of the early 20th century Brazil, is credited with originally coming up with the idea for the race. He used it as a means of promoting his newspaper, in 1928, the year of the races 4th edition, he founded one of the first sports newspapers of the country, the Gazeta Esportiva, which then became the races official organizer and sponsor. The race would be the main advertising element of this sports newspaper, the race was held for the first time on December 31,1925 and has not been interrupted or suspended even once during its history, not even for the duration of World War II. Originally, it was intended for men only, and participation was restricted to citizens of the city of São Paulo, at that time, the event was not yet open to foreign participation. That meant that athletes from other countries could not come in to participate, because of this, Italian Heitor Blasi was the only foreigner to have won the race before 1947. In 1945 the field was opened so that runners could participate. That year marked the beginning of a 34-year-long period during which no Brazilian man won the event, until José João da Silva, from Pernambuco, the event would remain a men-only affair until 1975, when the United Nations declared that year as the International Year of Women. In commemoration of this, the organizers held the womens race for the first time. The womens race started as an event, and the first Brazilian victory would come only in its 20th edition. Until December 31,1982, a Globo Television Network is First broadcast on television via satellite to the whole Brazil for Saint Silvester Road Race. Globo as television network formed in September 1,1969 and national programming in 1975, since 1993, a shorter race for children is held a few days before the main event. Until 1988, the took place at last night, approaching the New Years. The time of the race was altered for first afternoon, the direction was reversed, and men and women. In 1991, the length of the race was extended to 15,000 meters and this variance needed to be corrected in order to meet the requirements of the Federation of Athletics
24.
Road running
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Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road. These events are classified as long-distance according to athletics terminology. They may involve large numbers of runners or wheelchair entrants, the three most common IAAF recognized distances for road running events are 10K runs, half marathons and marathons. Despite this, there are far more 5K road race events, due to their popularity for charity races and similar, less competitive reasons to hold an event. Road running may offer those involved a range of challenges and interests such as dealing with hills, sharp bends, varied surfaces, inclement weather, aerobic fitness, or the ability of the body to use oxygen, is the biggest factor contributing to success. The impact of running on roads puts more stress on the feet, knees and it can compensate by providing a consistent, level surface. It may put less strain on the Achilles tendon, before engaging in road running, one should choose a shoe that best suits ones foot type and running style. Road running is one of forms of road racing, which also include road bicycle racing. Race courses are held on the streets of major cities and towns. Other common distances include 5 kilometres,8 kilometres,12 kilometres, some major events have unique distances. Most road race courses are certified to be accurate to within 0. 1%, certified courses are often intentionally lengthened by one metre per km to ensure that they are not short of the stated distance. A Jones Counter attached to a bicycle is used to course length. Remeasurement to verify the length is undertaken when a record is set on a course. Running that covers a distance farther than a marathon is called ultrarunning, such events can be measured in distance or by time. Beyond the ultramarathon lie the multiday and stage races, Road running is unique among athletic events because in many cases first time amateurs are welcome to participate in the same event as members of running clubs and even current world-class champions. Sometimes race times are recorded manually by race organizers, most road races feature electronic timing using transponders, Road races are often community-wide events that highlight or raise money for an issue or project. In the USA, Susan G. Komens Race for the Cure is held nationwide to raise breast cancer awareness and this race is also run in Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico. Similarly, Race for Life holds races throughout the UK to raise money for Cancer Research UK, first person race reports frequently appear on the Dead Runners Society electronic mailing list
25.
Brazil
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Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. As the worlds fifth-largest country by area and population, it is the largest country to have Portuguese as an official language. Its Amazon River basin includes a vast tropical forest, home to wildlife, a variety of ecological systems. This unique environmental heritage makes Brazil one of 17 megadiverse countries, Brazil was inhabited by numerous tribal nations prior to the landing in 1500 of explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral, who claimed the area for the Portuguese Empire. Brazil remained a Portuguese colony until 1808, when the capital of the empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, in 1815, the colony was elevated to the rank of kingdom upon the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Independence was achieved in 1822 with the creation of the Empire of Brazil, a state governed under a constitutional monarchy. The ratification of the first constitution in 1824 led to the formation of a bicameral legislature, the country became a presidential republic in 1889 following a military coup détat. An authoritarian military junta came to power in 1964 and ruled until 1985, Brazils current constitution, formulated in 1988, defines it as a democratic federal republic. The federation is composed of the union of the Federal District, the 26 states, Brazils economy is the worlds ninth-largest by nominal GDP and seventh-largest by GDP as of 2015. A member of the BRICS group, Brazil until 2010 had one of the worlds fastest growing economies, with its economic reforms giving the country new international recognition. Brazils national development bank plays an important role for the economic growth. Brazil is a member of the United Nations, the G20, BRICS, Unasul, Mercosul, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States, CPLP. Brazil is a power in Latin America and a middle power in international affairs. One of the worlds major breadbaskets, Brazil has been the largest producer of coffee for the last 150 years and it is likely that the word Brazil comes from the Portuguese word for brazilwood, a tree that once grew plentifully along the Brazilian coast. In Portuguese, brazilwood is called pau-brasil, with the word brasil commonly given the etymology red like an ember, formed from Latin brasa and the suffix -il. As brazilwood produces a red dye, it was highly valued by the European cloth industry and was the earliest commercially exploited product from Brazil. The popular appellation eclipsed and eventually supplanted the official Portuguese name, early sailors sometimes also called it the Land of Parrots. In the Guarani language, a language of Paraguay, Brazil is called Pindorama
26.
Haile Gebrselassie
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Haile Gebrselassie is a retired Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event and he won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon. Further to this, he won four world titles indoors and was the 2001 World Half Marathon Champion. Haile had major wins at distances between 1500 metres and the marathon, moving from outdoor, indoor and cross country running to road running in the latter part of his career. He broke 61 Ethiopian national records ranging from 800 metres to the marathon, set 27 world records, and is widely regarded as the greatest distance runner in history. In September 2008, at the age of 35, he won the Berlin Marathon with a record time of 2,03,59. The record stood for three years, since he was over the age of 35, that mark still stands as the Masters Age group world record. Haile was born as one of ten children in Asella, Oromiya Region, as a child growing up on a farm he used to run ten kilometres to school every morning, and the same back every evening. This led to a running posture, with his left arm crooked as if still holding his school books. The next year, in 1993, Haile won the first of what would eventually be four consecutive world titles in the mens 10,000 metres at the 1993,1995,1997. His win at the 1993 was however his most infamous as he stepped on the heel of Moses Tanuis shoe at the bell. After the contact, with just one shoe, an angered Tanui moved out to a 10 meter lead, also at the 1993 World Championships he ran in the 5, 000-metre race to finish a close second behind Ismael Kirui of Kenya. In 1994 he won a medal at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Later that year he set his first world record by running a 12,56.96 in the 5, 000-metres, in 1995, Haile ran the 10, 000-metres in 26,43.53 in Hengelo, Netherlands, lowering the world record by nine seconds. That same summer, in Zürich, Switzerland, Haile ran the 5000 metres in 12,44.39 and this world record at the Weltklasse meet in Zürich was voted Performance of the Year for 1995 by Track & Field News magazine.09. In 1997, Haile turned the tables on Komen at the same meet, Komen, in turn, took Hailes record only nine days later when Komen ran a 12,39.74 performance in Belgium. In June 1998 in Hengelo, Netherlands, Haile set a 10,000 metres world record 26,22.75, breaking Paul Tergats world record 26,27.85, running evenly paced 13, 11/13,11 5K splits. Just 13 days later, Haile took on the 5000 metres mark of Komen in Helsinki, croatian pacemaker Branko Zorko took the pace out slowly, hitting 1000 metres in 2,33.91 and dropping out at the mile
27.
Khalid Skah
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Khalid Skah is a Moroccan track and field athlete, winner of 10,000 metres at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Born in Midelt, Morocco, Khalid Skah established himself first as a cross country runner by winning the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 1990 and 1991. His first major tournament on track was 1991 World Championships where he at first won a bronze in 10,000 m and then finished sixth at the 5000 m run. This was an outcome for Skah as, earlier in the season. However, for the 10000 m final Richard Chelimo and the world champion, Moses Tanui employed some very elaborate tactics. By the time of the 5000 m final Skah was probably tired, yobes Ondieki who won the gold medal over 5000 m had expected Skah to be his major rival. At the Barcelona Olympics, Khalid Skah had a duel with Richard Chelimo from Kenya in the 10000 m. When they were lapping another Moroccan Hammou Boutayeb, the latter interfered with Chelimo, after the race Skah was accused of receiving undue assistance from Boutayeb and was disqualified, but was later reinstated. During the presentation ceremony, held the day, Skah was loudly booed by the crowd as he received his medal. In 1993 Skah won the 5000 m race at the meeting in Zurich. However, he finished fifth in 5000 m at the 1993 World Championships and he ran his only world record in 2 miles on the same season. He won the 1994 World Semi-Marathon Championships and finished second in 10,000 m at the 1995 World Championships, skahs last major international tournament was 1996 Summer Olympics, where he finished seventh in 10000 m. In 1995, Skah was given Norwegian citizenship, where he lived and trained with athletes club B. U. L, after that, the Moroccan Athletics Association banned him from international competitions. Khalid Skah married Norwegian interior designer Anne Cecilie Hopstock after his Barcelona triumph, the marriage ended in divorce after the family relocated to Morocco in 2006. Skah lost a battle with his former wife in Norwegian courts two years later, yet failed to return the children. He is indicted on kidnapping, threats and domestic disturbance charges in Norway, by 2009, Norwegian authorities had not accomplished to serve Skah any verdict. The two children of Skah and Cecilie Hopstock fled Morocco in July 2009, the Norwegian embassys alleged improper sheltering of the dual-citizenship children during their escape has led to a diplomatic dispute between the two countries. Skah issued a reward and filed for custody in Morocco, the former track champion maintains his innocence, claims the children were abducted and asserts that armed Norwegian commandos intruded into his home
28.
Brussels
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Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, but is separate from the region of Flanders or Wallonia. The region has a population of 1.2 million and an area with a population of over 1.8 million. Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions, the secretariat of the Benelux and the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are also located in Brussels. Today, it is considered an Alpha global city, historically a Dutch-speaking city, Brussels has seen a language shift to French from the late 19th century onwards. Today, the majority language is French, and the Brussels-Capital Region is a bilingual enclave within the Flemish Region. All road signs, street names, and many advertisements and services are shown in both languages, Brussels is increasingly becoming multilingual with increasing numbers of migrants, expatriates and minority groups speaking their own languages. The most common theory of the origin of Brussels name is that it derives from the Old Dutch Broekzele or Broeksel, meaning marsh, Saint Vindicianus, the bishop of Cambrai made the first recorded reference to the place Brosella in 695 when it was still a hamlet. The origin of the settlement that was to become Brussels lies in Saint Gaugericus construction of a chapel on an island in the river Senne around 580. The official founding of Brussels is usually situated around 979, when Duke Charles of Lower Lotharingia transferred the relics of Saint Gudula from Moorsel to the Saint Gaugericus chapel, Charles would construct the first permanent fortification in the city, doing so on that same island. Lambert I of Leuven, Count of Leuven gained the County of Brussels around 1000 by marrying Charles daughter, as it grew to a population of around 30,000, the surrounding marshes were drained to allow for further expansion. The Counts of Leuven became Dukes of Brabant at about this time, in the 13th century, the city got its first walls. After the construction of the city walls in the early 13th century, to let the city expand, a second set of walls was erected between 1356 and 1383. Today, traces of it can still be seen, mostly because the small ring, Brabant had lost its independence, but Brussels became the Princely Capital of the prosperous Low Countries, and flourished. In 1516 Charles V, who had been heir of the Low Countries since 1506, was declared King of Spain in St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral in Brussels. Upon the death of his grandfather, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor in 1519 and it was in the Palace complex at Coudenberg that Charles V abdicated in 1555. This impressive palace, famous all over Europe, had expanded since it had first become the seat of the Dukes of Brabant. In 1695, during the Nine Years War, King Louis XIV of France sent troops to bombard Brussels with artillery, together with the resulting fire, it was the most destructive event in the entire history of Brussels
29.
Half marathon
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A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres – half the distance of a marathon. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily since 2003, partly due to the fact that it is a challenging distance, in 2008, Running USA reported that the half marathon is the fastest growing type of race. A2010 article by Universal Sports mentioned the popularity of the distance. It is common for a marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon, using almost the same course with a late start. The half marathon is known as a 21K,21. 1K or 13.1 miles, although these values are rounded. In many races finisher medals are awarded but they may differ from concurrent full marathons by color, wording, in other events both races are put on the same medal although their ribbons may vary. A half marathon world record is recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. This table lists the best half marathon performances per year since 1970, in 2014, the largest half marathon in the world was the Göteborgsvarvet, also known as the Gothenburg half marathon, in Sweden with 64,288 announced runners and 47,491 finishers. The largest half marathon ever held was Broloppet between Copenhagen in Denmark and Malmö in Sweden with 79,719 finishers, held in connection with the Öresund Bridge inauguration in 2000. List of half marathon races IAAF World Half Marathon Championships Mini marathon Quarter marathon Half marathon world record progression IAAF list of records in XML
30.
Milan
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Milan is a city in Italy, capital of the Lombardy region, and the most populous metropolitan area and the second most populous comune in Italy. The population of the city proper is 1,351,000, Milan has a population of about 8,500,000 people. It is the industrial and financial centre of Italy and one of global significance. In terms of GDP, it has the largest economy among European non-capital cities, Milan is considered part of the Blue Banana and lies at the heart of one of the Four Motors for Europe. Milan is an Alpha leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, design, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, services, research, and tourism. Its business district hosts Italys Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the largest national and international banks, the city is a major world fashion and design capital, well known for several international events and fairs, including Milan Fashion Week and the Milan Furniture Fair. The city hosts numerous cultural institutions, academies and universities, with 11% of the national total enrolled students, Milans museums, theatres and landmarks attract over 9 million visitors annually. Milan – after Naples – is the second Italian city with the highest number of accredited stars from the Michelin Guide, the city hosted the Universal Exposition in 1906 and 2015. Milan is home to two of Europes major football teams, A. C. Milan and F. C. Internazionale, the etymology of Milan is uncertain. One theory holds that the Latin name Mediolanum comes from the Latin words medio, however, some scholars believe lanum comes from the Celtic root lan, meaning an enclosure or demarcated territory in which Celtic communities used to build shrines. Hence, Mediolanum could signify the central town or sanctuary of a Celtic tribe, indeed, the name Mediolanum is borne by about sixty Gallo-Roman sites in France, e. g. Saintes and Évreux. Alciato credits Ambrose for his account, around 400 BC, the Celtic Insubres settled Milan and the surrounding region. In 222 BC, the Romans conquered the settlement, renaming it Mediolanum, Milan was eventually declared the capital of the Western Roman Empire by Emperor Diocletian in 286 AD. Diocletian chose to stay in the Eastern Roman Empire and his colleague Maximianus ruled the Western one, immediately Maximian built several monuments, such as a large circus 470 m ×85 m, the Thermae Herculeae, a large complex of imperial palaces and several other buildings. With the Edict of Milan of 313, Emperor Constantine I guaranteed freedom of religion for Christians, after the city was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, the imperial residence was moved to Ravenna. In 452, the Huns overran the city, in 539, the Ostrogoths conquered and destroyed Milan during the Gothic War against Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. In the summer of 569, a Teutonic tribe, the Lombards, conquered Milan, some Roman structures remained in use in Milan under Lombard rule. Milan surrendered to the Franks in 774 when Charlemagne took the title of King of the Lombards, the Iron Crown of Lombardy dates from this period
31.
Moses Tanui
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Moses Tanui is a former Kenyan long-distance runner who won the gold medal over 10,000 metres at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo. He also won the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996 as well as the 102nd Boston Marathon in 1998, Tanui won IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 1995 and silver in the 1997 competition. He was the first athlete to run a marathon in less than one hour by running 59,47 in Milan on 3 April 1993. His record was five years later by fellow Kenyan Paul Tergat. He was still active in 2004 when he competed at the Seoul International Marathon and he retired later due to a knee injury. Today he operates a camp in Kaptagat. He was involved in a car accident near Nakuru in February 2010 suffering major injuries to his leg. David Lelei, another runner, was driving Tanuis car. All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise Moses Tanui profile at IAAF
32.
Samuel Wanjiru
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Samuel Kamau Wanjiru was a Kenyan athlete who specialised in long-distance running. He became a professional at an age and broke the world record in the half marathon when he was 18 years old. In 2007, he broke the 20 km road running record and he moved to the full marathon and won the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in an Olympic record time of 2,06,32, becoming the first Kenyan to win the Olympic gold in the marathon. He became the youngest Gold medalist in the Marathon since 1932, the following year, he won both the London Marathon and Chicago Marathon, running the fastest marathons ever recorded in the United Kingdom and United States, respectively. He retained his Chicago title in 2010 in a season fraught with injury, in 2011, he died after falling off a balcony at his home in Nyahururu following a domestic dispute. Police are still uncertain whether his death was a suicide, homicide, Wanjiru took his mothers given name as a surname, because she was a single mother. He dropped out of school aged about 12, because they could not afford the school fees, Wanjiru started running at the age of 8. In 2002, he moved to Japan and went to Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School in Sendai and he had success on the Japanese cross country circuit, where he won the Fukuoka International Cross Country at sixteen years old in 2003. He went on to win in both Fukuoka and at the Chiba International Cross Country consecutively in 2004 and 2005, after graduating in 2005, he joined the Toyota Kyūshū athletics team, coached by 1992 Olympic marathon silver medalist Koichi Morishita. Wanjiru had a 5000 m best of 13,12.40, run as a 17-year-old in April 2004 in Hiroshima, Japan. This was preceded two weeks earlier by a bettering of the 10,000 m world record by a margin of almost 23 seconds in the IAAF Golden League Van Damme Memorial Race on 26 August. His WJR time of 26,41.75 was good enough for place in the race behind Kenenisa Bekeles world record of 26,17.53. It was Kiprop who held the world junior mark, set at the same meeting the previous year. While improving his own record, he recorded a time of 55,31 for 20 km. Wanjiru made his debut at Fukuoka Marathon on 2 December 2007. He started 2008 by winning the Zayed International Half Marathon and receiving a prize of US $300,000, in the 2008 London Marathon, he came in second, breaking 2,06 for the first time. In the 2008 Summer Olympics, Wanjiru won the gold medal in an Olympic record time of 2,06,32. He received the AIMS World Athlete of the Year Award that year in recognition of his performances, in April 2009, Wanjiru won the London Marathon in a time of 2,05,10, a new personal record and also a new course record
33.
London Marathon
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The London Marathon is a long-distance running event held in London, United Kingdom, part of the World Marathon Majors. The event was first run on 29 March 1981 and has held in the spring of every year since. Since 2010, the race has been sponsored by Virgin Money, the most recent event was the 2016 London Marathon on 24 April 2016. The next London Marathon will be run on 23 April 2017, the race was founded by the former Olympic champion and journalist Chris Brasher and athlete John Disley. It is organised by Hugh Brasher as Race Director and Nick Bitel as Chief Executive, set over a largely flat course around the River Thames, the race begins at three separate points around Blackheath and finishes in The Mall alongside St. Jamess Park. Since the first marathon, the course has undergone very few route changes, in 1982, the finishing post was moved from Constitution Hill to Westminster Bridge due to construction works. It remained there for years before moving to its present location at The Mall. In 2007, 78% of all runners raised money, in 2011 the official charity of the London Marathon was Oxfam. In 2014, the charity was Anthony Nolan, and in 2015. The London Marathon was not the first long-distance running event held in the city, the Polytechnic Marathon was first held in 1909. The current London Marathon was founded in 1981 by former Olympic champion and journalist Chris Brasher, inspired by the people of New York coming together for this occasion, he asked whether London could stage such a festival. The following year Brasher and Disley made trips to America to study the organisation, the first London Marathon was held on 29 March 1981, more than 20,000 applied to run. 6,747 were accepted and 6,255 crossed the line on Constitution Hill. The Marathons popularity has grown since then. As at 2009,746,635 people have completed the race since its inception, in 2010,36,549 people crossed the line, the biggest field since the race began. The first wheelchair race was held in 1983 and the event was credited with reducing the stigma surrounding disabled athletes. In 2013 the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup was held within the London Marathon featuring athletes of both genders in the T42–T46 and T11–T13 categories. In August 2013 it was announced that the event would be staged in London until 2017 and feature athletes in the T11-T12, T13, T42-T44, T43, T45-46, T51-52 and the T53-54 class
34.
Khalid Khannouchi
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Khalid Khannouchi is a Moroccan American marathoner. He was born in Meknes, Morocco and he is the former world record holder for the marathon and held the former road world best for the 20 km distance. He is one of five men to break the marathon world record more than once. Khalid fell out with the Moroccan athletics federation over training expenses and moved to Brooklyn and he married American Sandra Inoa in 1996 who now coaches him and acts as his agent. They set up home in Ossining, New York and he became a naturalized citizen of the United States on May 2,2000. As of 2013, Khalid holds the American record for the marathon, Khannouchi officially retired on March 27,2012 due to recurring foot injuries since 2003. Khannouchi stated It was really my feet that betrayed me, every time I go and try to push hard, I get the pain and soreness again. I cant train hard and if you cant train at a level where you can be competitive its not worth it to keep wasting time. 1993 World Student Games, winner of the mens 5000 metres in Buffalo, Chicago Marathon, winner, at that time the fastest debut marathon in history and the fourth fastest marathon of all time. 1998 Chicago Marathon, second place Peachtree Road Race 10k, winner Falmouth Road Race 7,2004 Chicago Marathon, fifth place 2006 London Marathon, 4th place, coming back from a long period of injury. 2007 London Marathon, did not finish, United States Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City, 4th place Khannouchi was the first marathoner to break 2,06,00. However, he lost the record to Paul Tergat on September 28,2003. Khalid Khannouchi profile at IAAF Khalid Khannouchi Profile at All-Athletics. com TheFinalSprint. coms 5/18/07 interview with Khalid Khannouchi before his NYC racing debut
35.
IOC members
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This is a list of members of the International Olympic Committee. Currently there are 95 members,41 honorary members and 1 honour member, jacques Rogge is the Honorary President. The chairperson of an organization, who represents an Olympic sport, is represented in the IOC ex officio. Athletes commission members are elected to eight year terms, most honorary members are former members who, after finishing their terms of office, are made honorary members. Official website of the Olympic Movement
36.
125th IOC Session
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The 125th IOC Session took place at the Buenos Aires Hilton in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 7 September to 10 September 2013. The International Olympic Committee elected Tokyo as the host city of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games on 7 September, Wrestling was restored to the Olympic program for 2020 and 2024, and Thomas Bach was elected to an eight-year term as IOC President. The IOC received two bids from cities to host the 125th Session, Buenos Aires and Kuala Lumpur made bids, the Argentine capital Buenos Aires was elected at the 122nd IOC Session in Vancouver which took place prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics. The members of the IOC elected the host city of the 2020 Olympic Games on 7 September 2013, the candidates were Tokyo, Istanbul, and Madrid. Before the vote the contest was considered to be close between the three cities, Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympics. The results of the ballot were as follows, Following Madrids elimination. The announcement was met with jubilation from the Tokyo delegation and across Japan, japanese fencer Yuki Ota alluded to the 2011 earthquake in a statement to reporters, After the earthquake everyone in Japan was depressed but now we have to make a dream come true. Abes role in the stages of the bid, including his reassurances to the IOC that Fukushima radiation would not affect Tokyo, was considered to be a major asset. Tokyos bid had also received support from Princess Hisako and Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, on 10 September 2013, Thomas Bach of Germany was elected to succeed Jacques Rogge as IOC President, winning in two rounds of voting, over five other candidates. The IOC considered adding wrestling, squash and baseball/softball to the program for the 2020 Summer Olympics, the results of the vote on 8 September 2013 were, Baseball was first played at the Summer Olympics as a demonstration sport at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis. It was then played as a Demonstration sport at the Summer Olympics in 1912,1936,1956,1964,1984 and 1988, at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Baseball made its debut as an official medal sport. It was then present at each Summer Olympic Game until the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing where it was last played at the Olympic Games, Softball was played at the Summer Olympics from 1996 to 2008. The governing bodies for Baseball and Softball ultimately merged to form the World Baseball Softball Confederation in 2013, both Baseball and Softball were able to have a singular bid for joining the Olympic program. Squash has been played at international sporting events. It is played in more than 185 countries and by millions worldwide and it has been played at the Pan American Games since 1995 and the All-Africa Games since 2003. It has also played at both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games since 1998. The sport is governed by the World Squash Federation, Wrestling is practiced all around the world - officially in 177 countries, some of which participate in the Olympic program just in this sport. It was initially dropped from the program for the 2020 games, however, Wrestling will still be part of the program at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
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Chicago Marathon
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The Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo Marathons, thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race. The Chicago Marathon is the fourth-largest race by number of finishers worldwide, the October 9,2016 running was the 39th anniversary of the race. The first race was held on September 25,1977 under the name the Mayor Daley Marathon. The race has been every year since, except in 1987 when only a half-marathon was run. It is among the fastest growing marathon road races in the world, due in part to its largely fast and flat course which facilitates the pursuit of personal records and world record performances. The race has achieved its status among marathons by developing relationship with sponsors who provide prize money to lure elite runners who have produced American. Since 2008 the race has been sponsored by Bank of America, the race is limited to 45,000 runners and only runners who finish within 6½ hours are officially timed. Those wishing to participate can register after either meeting a time qualifying standard or being selected through a general lottery, although the race has limited registration, exceptions include elite runners and charity representatives. Increasingly, local, national and global charities and humanitarian organizations encourage sponsored participation in the event as a means of fund raising. The first marathon at the 1896 Games of the I Olympiad generated interest in the sport led to similar races throughout most western countries. While marathons sporadically occurred in New York City and St. Louis, beginning in 1905, the Chicago Marathon was held annually, with significant community and spectator support, until the early 1920s. The First Chicago Marathon was run on September 23,1905 and that first race began in Evanston and finished in front of a standing-room-only paying crowd at Washington Park race track. In a stunning upset, a reported 100,000 or more spectators watched Rhud Metzner come from behind to steal a victory from the favored Louis Marks. With that first race, the Chicago Marathon began a run of epic races that continued until the early 1920s on a revised course that largely resembles todays marathon route. It was not until the health consciousness of the 1960s that marathon growth gained traction in the eyes of the nation, frank Shorters 1972 Games of the XX Olympiad marathon victory represented the convergence of many middle-class American ideals. Then the 1976 New York City Marathon, which was the first New York City Marathon to embrace the five borough course, as the New York marathon began to grow exponentially in the 1970s, the Chicago Marathon was established as a rival to the New York City Marathon. By the mid-1980s, the Chicago Marathon was ensconced as one of the big four marathons, during the mid-1980s, it was named Americas Marathon/Chicago and opened up the way for appearance payments
38.
Berlin Marathon
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The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a road race where professional athletes. First initiated in 1974, the event traditionally takes place on the last weekend in September, the Berlin marathon is one of the largest and most popular road races in the world. In 2016, the race had 46,950 entrants from 122 countries, along with seven other races, it forms the World Marathon Majors, a series offering a $1 million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and female marathoners. For a record six consecutive years 2011-2016 Berlin has been the site of the leading mens time for the year. The event is split over 2 days, about 8,000 additional inline skaters compete at the marathon course the Saturday before the running event. Power walkers, handbikers, wheelchair riders, and a childrens marathon are also part of the marathon weekend, the course within the metropolis starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate. Because of the division of city, the events before 1990 were limited to the area of West Berlin. Only on 30 September 1990, were able to run through the Brandenburg Gate. It was reported that a great many of the runners had tears in their eyes as they ran through the gate, nowadays, after leaving Brandenburg Gate, the course passes Charlottenburg, around Tiergarten, along Moabit and Mitte, and then south to Friedrichshain. After that, it winds west between Kreuzberg and Neukölln, through Schöneberg, over to Friedenau and Zehlendorf, before turning back toward the citys center. Looping above Schöneberg, the course comes full circle as it finishes through the Gate and this route differs from the one used at the 1936 Summer Olympics Marathon. World records Men Women Key, Current course record German championship race In terms of finishing athletes the 2008 Berlin marathon was the 5th largest marathon run of all time,35,913 athletes including 130 power walkers reached the finish in under 6 hours. The 2008 skater marathon had numbered 7,685 participants and counted around 200,000 spectators along the course and it is considered the largest inline skater marathon in the world and is the final venue of the World Inline Cup. Records Men,59,28, Bart Swings,2013 Women,1,08,29, the athletes start at the same day, usually at Sunday, like the runners and power walkers
39.
World records in athletics
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World records in athletics are ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Athletics records comprise the best performances in the sports of track and field, Records are kept for all events contested at the Olympic Games and some others. Unofficial records for other events are kept by track and field statisticians. The only non-metric track distance for which records are kept is the mile run. The criteria include, The dimensions of the track and equipment used must conform to standards, in road events, the course must be accurately measured, by a certified measurer. Except in road events, the performance must be set in a single-sex race, all team members in a relay race must be of the same nationality. Pacemakers are allowed, provided they have not been lapped, lapped athletes must give way, drug testing immediately after the performance is now required for ratification of a record. Existing records which predate this requirement are still extant, athletes who pass the immediate test but are later found to have been on drugs have their performances invalidated. In running events up to 200 m in distance and in horizontal jump events, in decathlon or heptathlon, average wind assistance of less than 2.0 m/s is required across all applicable disciplines, and maximum of 4.0 m/s in any one event. In running events up to 800 m in distance, photo finish fully automatic timing is required, see effects of high altitude on humans. Records set at high altitude venues are often marked with an A though that does not disqualify it as a record, under those circumstances, a sea level best is also tracked by statisticians. Long-distance races run at altitude, with oxygen available to the athlete, have shown to be to the athletes disadvantage. In road events, the course is not required to be a circuit, in road events, the start and finish points of a course, measured along a theoretical straight line between them, shall not be further apart than 50% of the race distance. Some middle-distance runners have specialized in acting as pacemakers in longer races, receiving a fee without even finishing the race, and possibly a bonus if a record results. This is an occupation for athletes who are capable of running accurately to a specified pace. This has been done by Sergey Bubka in the pole vault. Some commentators have complained that neither athlete ever posted as high a mark as they were capable of, in other disciplines this issue does not arise, since it is practically impossible to deliberately break a record by a small margin, except in the high jump. The IAAF started to recognize world records in 1912, and indoor world records after 1987, in 2000, IAAF rule 260. 18a was amended, so that world records can be set in a facility with or without roof
Kenya
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