Athletes and dignitaries highlighted how history will be made at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Antalya 24, on the eve of the competition in Turkiye on Sunday (21 April).
The marathon race walk mixed relay will make its Olympic debut in Paris in August, and WRW Antalya 24 is a qualifying event for the new discipline.
In addition to the mixed relay, the programme in Antalya features senior 20km and U20 10km races, and there is star quality across the board.
“This world-class competition has always been important to the race-walking community, but this edition is particularly significant because, of course, it is an Olympic qualifying event, with the Paris Games just three months away,” said World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon at the pre-event press conference held at the Dokumapark Modern Art Gallery in Antalya.
“That significance is further heightened because we are making some history tomorrow. For the first time in a major championship event, we have the marathon race walk mixed relay event that will be staged as a precursor to its introduction into the Olympic Games in Paris. I am really looking forward to seeing this new event live in action.
“I am also delighted that pretty much all of the top international race walkers worldwide are here in Antalya for this weekend’s action. Race walking is an element of the sport where nobody hides from head-to-head competition. It will be a truly top-tier competition.”
Turkish Athletic Federation President Fatih Cintimar reinforced the event’s importance.
“We are very honoured to have this competition in Turkiye. This is history for us and history for race walking,” he said.
“Seeing that 22 marathon race walk mixed relay teams will qualify for the Olympics is very important for us, too. Organising this big event with the Governor of Antalya, we are so honoured. Good luck to all the athletes competing tomorrow.”
Governor Hulusi Sahin said, ” This is a huge event for both Antalya and Turkiye. We are very honoured.
“Today is rainy and windy, but tomorrow we expect good weather with a beautiful atmosphere.”
Polish race-walking great Robert Korzeniowski was also in attendance as the World Athletics ambassador for the event.
The four-time Olympic and three-time world gold medallist shared his expectations for the competition: “Twenty years after I stopped my high-performance career, I have a chance to see my dear athletics event in very good shape – progressing into a new formula…
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