The opening stage of the fifth season of the athletics competition series BIGBANK Gold League will take place tomorrow, 20 January, at 5 pm at the Lasnamäe Sports Hall. All in all 3 winter and 5 summer stages will take place in 2010.
At the opening stage of the winter season, also strong Latvians, Lithuanians, Finns, Russains and Ukrainians will compete besides Estonians. In the men's 60 meters sprint serious competition to Taavi Liiv (6.77) will be provided by the Ukrainian Dmytro Ostrovskyy (6.77) and Latvian Maris Grenins (6.75). In the men's long jump the audience has a possibility to see the long jumps of the Ukrainian Dmytro Belotcerkovkiy (8.04) and two Latvians Andrejs Maskancevsi (7.96) and Janis Leitisi (7.90).
The ruling European indoor champion Ksenija Balta will compete in the women's 60 meters hurdles and attempt to beat the Estonian record of 8.20 owned by Miriam Liimask. A new record is also attempted by the Estonian pole vault record owner Lembi Vaher.
For the first time, the winter stages include the ETK heptathlon 2010, where in every stage 2-3 events will take place according to the heptathlon regulations of the IAAF. The calculation of points and determining the winners of the heptathlon will be done on the basis of the IAAF heptathlon point's table. The first stage will include 60 meters run, long jump and shot put. Mikk Pahapill, Andres Raja and Mikk-Mihkel Arro have promised to participate in the ETK heptathlon.
Last year BIGBANK concluded an agreement with the MTÜ Spordiürituse Korraldamise Klubi, pursuant to which the bank will support organising the most reputable athletics series of the Baltics - BIGBANK Gold League - for the next four years with a total of three million kroons. This year the BIGBANK Gold League, which is already taking place for the fifth time, is organised by the MTÜ Spordiürituste Korraldamise Klubi.
BIGBANK is a credit institution based on Estonian capital with branches in Latvia, Lithuania and Finland and which offers cross-border service also in Germany. The BIGBANK bonds have been listed in the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
Entrance to the event is free.
