European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen inspected the newly furbished athletics track in the Elbasan Arena on the first day of his visit to Albania on 31 January.
President Hansen was guided by the President of the Albanian Athletics Federation, George Ruli, and was pleased to find a high quality track able to hold international athletics meetings, the first of the kind in Albania.
The multi-purpose stadium has recently been renovated and an inaugural international event is set to be staged on 21 May.
“I want to thank the authorities who have pushed to build an athletics track in Elbasan. There will be many athletes participating in events organised here and Elbasan will discover our wonderful sport. This stadium is surely one of the most beautiful in the Balkan region and the track will set the standards for others to be built in Albania,” said Hansen.
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Hansen then joined IAAF President Sebastian Coe, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Minister of Education and Sports Lindita Nikolla, in Tirana on 1 February, to discuss the new stadium that is being renovated.
With the success of the Elbasan Arena, President Ruli is hopeful that the new stadium that is being constructed in Tirana will also be fitted with an athletics track.
“I'm confident that the stadium in Tirana will have a track worthy of the capital. The federation will continue to fight to promote the sport of athletics in Albania,' said Ruli.
Hansen and Coe later met with the President of the Albanian National Olympic Committee Viron Bezhan.