Written By T DobbinNews has been released that the 2009 World Inline Speed
Skating Championships will be held in Haining City, China from the 16th to the 27th of September. The reason for this decision is because the week after the World Championships there is an IOC meeting held in China to dicuss the chances of getting Inline Speed Skating into the Olympics and those committee members will be Haining City to watch.
With these dates being set it will be put a question mark next to who will be attending the biggest inline event of the year at the Berlin World Inline Cup held on the 19th of September. Not only will be question this big inline event usually this is the first week of the ice opening in Thialf, Netherlands and most of the marathon teams are in a training camp to prepare for the beginning of October's start of the marathon racing season.
Below is the information sent regarding next year's World Championships:
To all National Federations affiliated to FIRS
copy: Continental Confederations- CIC Members- Members of FIRS Central Committee
ref. 2009 World Roller Speed Skating Championships
Dear Mister the President,
I am glad to communicate you that the 2009 World Roller Speed Skating Championships, junior and senior categories- men and women- on track and on the road are scheduled in:
HAINING CITY ( People's Republic of China)
September 16-27
Haining City locates in Zhejiang Province; 2 hours driving from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and 1 hour driving from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport.
Special thanks to the Chinese Roller Skating Association, to the Authorities of Haining and to the Organising Committee for having accepted to organise this event in a so short available time.
I am sure that the Chinese Friends will organise once again unforgettable Worlds for all the athletes who will be lucky in participating at.
With this info, all affiliated Federations may include the participation expenses at this event in their 2009 budget.
I invite all Federations to take part at these World Championships, sure that we shall overcome the 2008 record ( Gijon/Spain) of 57 participating countries.
As you know, the IOC will take a final decision in October 2009 about a possible inclusion of our sport in the 2016 Olympic Program.
We shall invite some IOC Members at our Worlds to show the high athletic level of our sport.
All Federations are kindly requested to participate by supporting the Roller Speed Skating Movement in attaining the Olympic goal.
Awaiting to meet all of you in Rome at the FIRS Elective Congress on February 7, I am seizing this opportunity for sending you my best sports regards,
Dr. Roberto Marotta
CIC President
FIRS Secretary General
