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THIS WAS CERTAINLY THE DAY OF RECORDS!

The previous days before the competition it was raining and raining. Therefore, we all expected the rain to be present at the meeting, but the sky above gave us the „present” of the day – forgetting to rain. The sun was shinning, yet only 20 C and the powerful wind blew back-and-forth that pretty much disturb the athletes. This time the athletes fought against nature as well and brought their best and good results.

This athletics meeting commemorated to Mr. István Gyulai – a sprinter in his young adult age, winning 28 National Championships to Hungary. The Hungarian sport diplomat, the former General Secretary of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The opening ceremony was held by Mr. Pierre Weiss of France, the General Secretary of the IAAF. His first words were: „Mr. István Gyulai was a great boss, a colleague and a friend of mine for almost two decades.”

After many years one chapter of Mr. István Gyulai dream came true today.  The Hungarian Athletics Federation (MASZ) cherished and kept the light on that dream.  Unfortunately, within this chapter Mr. István Gyulai couldn’t be present, he has gone ahead before he would have been here to vision this superb athletics meeting. As his son, Mr. Marton Gyulai, General Secretary of  Hungarian Federation said during the opening ceremony: „Dad, I hope if you look down you’re happy to see your dream come true.”

The list of competitors  would be extremely long, therefore I’m  just mentioning a couple of outstanding athletes.

The top athletes expressed their thanks to the awesome cheering audience by showing their best of their personal records.

Krisztián Pars, the Hungarian hammer thrower, one of the stars of the “István Gyulai Memorial” opened the Athletics Meeting  by throwing his hammer two-time above 79m, marked of 79.37 – 79.04m.   He has represented Hungary at the Olympics  two occasions – won the men’s senior gold medal with a world junior record marked 84.47m. 

Asafa Powell, the American World leader sprinter, was happy to show us  twice his blast under 10s/100m. This was his 80th occasion he made his sprint under 10s.

Powell said before the shot: „I am not expecting to get the gold medal, but to bring out the best of me.”  When Powell ran 9.86s at 100m the crowd cheered up, the stadium was loud as they expressed their appreciation.

Veronica Campbell-Brown, the Jamaican sprinter, track and field World Champion. Five-time Olympic  medallist. Six- time World Championship medallist. This was her best run of the year  in the women’s 200m 22.26s. She can also say she won her sprint at Budapest with approaching this year her best time.

No one was fond with the  high windy weather, neither was Veronica, but   – as she said  “the audience was superb and fantastic in support  and hopes she will have the same uplifting audience at the IAAF World Championship/Korea.”

Sanya Richards-Ross, the US sprinter,  two-time Olympic gold medallist,  won a gold medal in 2009 at the World Championship  in the 400 meters race. Two-time track and field athlete of the year.

Sanya, gushed about the awesome supportive audience here at the Puskás Stadion, whereas she ran in the women’s 200m  22.63s. So far this was her best  sprint of the year.

Zoltán Kővágó, the Hungarian discus thrower, surely gained  his best by his biggest shot.  At the end he won the discus throw at 69.50m. He has taken the first place in leading the world season list.

Asafa Powell received the trophy prize for the best athlete at the „István Gyulai Memorial” from the Sports Director of the event, Mr. Attila Spiriev.

The “István Gyulai Memorial” of 2011 was a  major step  in gathering   international  athletes and a  double major step in the history of the  Hungarian Athleteics Federation  that made  Mr. István Gyulai’s dream come true.

The whole team of the organizers did a great job.  Congratulation!

I hope that it wasn’t a one time occasion for gathering  great athletes from all around the world  and the “István Gyulai Memorial” light will always shine from now on and lead in the future.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter.

A day before the grand athletics meeting,  the Press Conference continued by the host, Mr. Márton Gyulai,  General Secretary of the Hungarian Athletics Federation (MASZ) at the Federation Center.

TWO SPRINTER QUEENS AT ONE ATHLETICS MEETING

One of the two “Queens” in the field of sprinters.

Sanya Richards-Ross – United States of America  

“My main goal is to run as fast as I can and to entertain those that are watching   the game. When I’m running  ain’t giving any thoughts of who is ahead nor beside me,  just doing my best. Of course, I always know who will be also on the field, but what really counts is the time and to win. This is my first time here in  Budapest and hope to be able to see some parts before leaving.” She admitted, next time she will be coming along to another athletics meeting here at Budapest she will bring  her father, who was a great fan of Puskás.  Her father already envied her for  running in that Stadium named after Puskás.

Oscar Pistorius – South Africa

Pistorius is known as “the fastest man on no legs.”  He doesn’t feel different from those walking folks with their two legs.  He said: “When I get up in the morning, I buckle on my legs. My brother slips into his shoes and off we  go. Simple as that!” Ending  the interview, he quoted what  he often says: “They say in athletics you can be fit, but you also need to be competition fit.”  He also added: “Often individuals think and say the Olympic and Paralympic games are two different games. Many misunderstand the meaning of the word. So let me put it this way, paralympic word stand for parallel and not paralyzed.

Members of the Hungarian Paralympics  Association also joined the press conference and handed over a small  gift,  an album of photos of the  Hungarian Paralympics medal winners.

Two European sprinter champions

Kevin Borlée – Belgium   (to the left)

Deák Nagy Marcell – Hungary  (to the right)

Both said they are looking forward to a great competition and hope they will run before the wind.

National Athletics Olympic champions

(from left to right)

Zoltán Kővágó  – discus throw

Zoltán Kővágó  – discus throw

Kisztián Pars – hammer throw

Róbert Fazekas – discus throw

Daniel Kiss – hurdles

As they all  said, injuries were around them, but hopefully it won’t disturb their  results and in winning  tomorrow.

Krisztián Pars – Hungary

Was showing, talking about his previous finger injury.

Showing  his “new finger style” that he  had to  “invent” . He showed the press which finger will do  the job – to be able to hold/throw  the discus of tomorrow.  He hopes he will succeed.

The other “Queen” of  sprinter

Veronica Campbell-Brown – Jamaica

Seemed to be excited  and looking forward to her run of tomorrow.  She would have loved to go for that 400m, but this time  it hasn’t been brought into the schedule, therefore she will be in the 200m sprint. She reckons that  it’s going to be a great battle between Sanya Richards-Ross and her, here at  Budapest. This game will be her last one  before  attending to the IAAF World Championships at Daegu Stadion/Korea.  With a  lovely smile on her face  she spoke about her  love for the 400m run, although it hasn’t been adopted  in this program, she will be in the 200m sprint.  She also mentioned, she often runs 200m, but now-a-days it is a kind of field outwork for her.

Update and snaps Aggie Reiter

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Hello track and field fans come to Budapest –  Ferenc Puskás Stadion. The LEGENDS are coming to Budapest. More than 30 countries with 200 partcipants to join this meeting.

It is going to be a day for all parts of the World athlete lovers to remember.

You wouldn’t want to miss it. Why? Because, Budapest hasn’t shared the field with international awesome names of athletes  to participate under the umberella of championship organized here in Hungary for many years. This means World known athletes legends are going to be here in Budapest at the “ISTVÁN GYULAI MEMORIAL” organized by the Hungarian Athletics Federation(MASZ).

The aim of this sport event is in remembrance to  Mr. István Gyulai,  (gone ahead 2006) – IAAF General Secretary, athlete winner at the  Universiade, once well know sport reporter at the Hungarian Television.  He  surely deserves the gold medal in the field of  the ambassdor of athletics sport.

Hungarian Athletics Federation  has invited worldwide known athletes to participate at this meeting.

This Saturday will be the day for the Hungarians  at the grand-stands to see for the first time  Asafa Powell, the one and only outbreak sprinter to run  100m under 10s.

Another fantastic athlete, track and field world class sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown, two time World Youth Champion, three time World Junior Championship, Gold at Doha 2010, Gold 3  times, one Silver, 1 Bronze at the Olyimpic Games.  She said she is looking forward to a great run and some sightseeing if time allows.

Another shinning star to be seen on Saturday,  Sanya Richards-Ross – track and field athlete – two-time Olympic and four-time World Champion, two-time World Athlete of the Year. She will also share  some breathtaking moments  running together with Veronica Campbell-Brown.

Great Olympic and World Champion Hungarian Athletes will be also attending the games.

Don’t miss out 30-July-2011

Saturday afternoon … that’s your place to be!

Highlights of the Program

2.30 p.m.   How fast do you run at 100m? Open run of  100 meters by the audience

4 p.m.          Men’s – Hammer throw

5.15 p.m.   Opening Ceremony

5.20 p.m.   Parade of Stars – with the participance of the event’s greatest stars

5.55 p.m.   Men’s – Nationwide  

6.05 p.m.   Women’s – Nationwide 100 m

6.05 p.m.   Women’s –  Long-jump

6.10 p.m.   How fast do you run on 100m?  – Final

6.20 p.m.   Men’s – Pole-vault

6.20 p.m.   Men’s – 5000m

6.25 p.m.   Men’s – Discus throw

6.40 p.m.   Women’s – 500m

6.52 p.m.   Men’s – 100m  –  1st. qualifying round

6.57 p.m.   Men’s – 100m  – 2nd. qualifying round

7.05 p.m.   Men’s –  Triple jump

7.10 p.m.   Women’s  100m  Hurdle-race

7.20 p.m.   Men’s – 110m   Hurdle

7.30 p.m    Women”S – 200 m  

7.40 p.m.   Men’s- 800m  

7.50 p.m.   Men’s – 400m

8 p.m.          Men’s Final – 100m

8.05p.m.   Dr.Bojidar Spiriev – Presenting the Trophy to the Best Athlete of the day!

Update and snaps by: Aggie Reiter

A sunny afternoon in the first week of June at the City of Budapest in the Hall of the Royal Orfeum, the famous operett artist Mr Károly Peller introduced his latest CD album, title „By Pairs” (This is Operett 2) infront of the representives of the press and medias.

He and thanks to the operett primadonnas, subretts and other legendary singers, they gave us with a short, yet rememberable franatic show with the taste of their spirit and talent.

This preformamce was held for the CD record preview of what’s to come by these sophisticated members of the Budapest’s Operett Theater.

Mr. Károly Peller upcoming „By Pairs” (This is Operett 2) concert will be on stage :
On the 27th of August, 2011 at 7p.m. at the City of Pécs – Center of Kodály Hall.

On the 26th of August 2011 at 7p.m. at City of Budapest – Operett Thearter

Update and snaps by: Aggie Reiter