A Reception for Estonian Athletes
The 2001 World Championships in Athletics - The Worlds - were held in Edmonton during the first two weeks in August. The competitors enjoyed a well-organized event under near-ideal weather conditions.
While no world records were broken, many of the athletes achieved personal bests and set many national records.
Two of Estonia's top athletes - Erki Nool and Aleksander Tammert - competed in Edmonton. The winner of the gold medal in the decathlon at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Nool won the silver medal in Edmonton with a point total of 8,815 - a new Estonian record. Tammert competed in the discus throw and placed amongst the top dozen or so athletes in his event. A third athlete - septathlete Larissa Netsheporuk - was unable to compete owing to the status of her Estonian citizenship.
The Estonian contingent at The Worlds comprised about 20 individuals, namely athletes, trainers officials, sportswriters, and nine members of the Erki Nool Fan Club. The Fan Club is made up of very enthusiastic fans who travel to competitions to cheer their hero on to victory. In Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, the Fan Club attracted a lot of attention in their yellow Erki Nool t-shirts, accompanied by loud drumming and the waving of Estonian flags.
The Edmonton Estonian Society took advantage of the opportunity to sponsor a reception for the Estonian delegation. Over 60 people gathered in the acreage home of Dave Kiil to socialize with old friends and to make new friends. A Western BBQ, along with traditional delicacies and refreshments supplied by Society members, contributed to a most enjoyable time.
The Estonian Track and Field Association, as well as Nool and Tammert, were presented with a commemorative plaque and medals, respectively, in recognition of their athletic accomplishments during the Worlds in our city.
The informal reception provided an opportunity for participants to get acquainted with each other and to catch up on happenings in Estonia. The arrival of Nool and his entourage was unquestionably the highlight of the evening. The athletes were greeted with prolonged applause and camera flashes lit up the night sky.
As the centre of attention, Nool complied with numerous requests for autographs and responded to an endless stream of questions about himself and his life as an athlete. A couple of young fans were so impressed with their hero and were later reported to be ready to follow in Nool's footsteps.
Members and friends of the Edmonton Estonian Society were enthusiastic about the opportunity to meet these outstanding athletes and to honor their accomplishments on the international stage. New friendships were formed and the memories will last a lifetime!
Dave Kiil
