Idman.biz
From this year, Baku has been included in the calendar of the Vertical Running World Tour. The "SkyWinD" tournament, which will be held on September 28 at "Flame Towers", will bring together athletes from different countries. They have to complete a route of 32 floors, 160 meters high and 837 steps. The event will also be attended by Daniel Čecetka, president of the World Association of this sport (TWA).
Daniel Čecetka, who gave an exclusive interview to Idman.biz, spoke about the importance of the competition, the features and heroes of vertical running.
– You visited Baku in early July and announced that a race would be held at "Flame Towers" at that time. What are your expectations from this tournament?
– First of all, let me say that I have never been to Azerbaijan before. However, I have always wanted to see your beautiful country and capital. When I finally came here, I had the most pleasant impressions. The July trip was very rich and productive. I met with the Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov, the founder of the "Triterra" club Rufat Hasanov, and we discussed various joint projects. At that time, it was officially announced that a race under the TWA flag will be held in "Flame Towers" in September.
Of course, there is some excitement, which is normal. The race will be a great test for all participants and it will be very interesting to watch.
– Which vertical running stars will be possible to see in Baku?
– An announcement will be made about this in the near future. But I can say that Kamilla Čomaníčková, one of the leading athletes in the world ranking, will come to Baku. The Slovak athlete has already participated in 18 competitions in different countries of the world this year and is currently in fifth place in the ranking. I am sure that the new venue will be very interesting for the participants. Because this is not only about competing in "Flame Towers", but also about seeing Baku, feeling the spirit of the city. As the competition becomes traditional, the number of visitors will also increase.
– What is the calendar of the World Tour, how intense are the races?
– The calendar is quite tight. Almost every weekend several races are organized. For example, tournaments were held in Singapore, Indonesia, China and Slovakia at the beginning of this month. In the second weekend of September, stages took place in Japan, Australia, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and the USA. As you can see, the calendar is very intense and athletes have a wide choice. In addition, our organization has a special rating system. This system is calculated not only among male and female athletes, but also by country.
– How is the "Flame Towers" race evaluated in terms of difficulty?
– Each race has its own indicator. This is called the "factor" – a numerical value given to the race and reflects its difficulty and international status. This indicator also affects the calculation of points in the World Tour. The factor of the stage to be held in Baku is 60. For example, the tournament in Harbin, China has the same indicator. This is a fairly high level of difficulty.
– You have risen from athlete to head of an international organization. How much does this experience help your work?
– Of course, it helps a lot. In 2013, I participated in the "Empire State Building" race for the first time and won. I even made a bet with my friends on it. This completely changed my life – unexpectedly. In the same year, I joined TWA and my goal was to turn vertical running into a global sport based on a healthy lifestyle. Now I see that this sport unites more and more people every day.
Zaki Feyzullayev
Idman.biz
