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By rdnewsNOW staff

June 13, 2024

Edmonton welcoming the world’s top track and field stars

Jun 12, 2024 | 2:37 PM

Alberta is hosting the next stop on the World Athletics Silver Continental Tour June 13, welcoming over 200 of the best track and field athletes from around the world.

According to provincial officials, Alberta continues to build upon its reputation as a world-class host for major sport events and a premier destination for sports fans by once again welcoming Olympic-level track and field athletes to the province for the Edmonton Athletics Invitational. The government says the one-day meet will bring athletes, coaches and officials from 15 countries to Edmonton’s Foote Field to take part in the action.

According to the province, the Invitational is expected to draw more than 2,000 spectators and inject more than $1 million into Edmonton’s economy through increased activity at local businesses and hotel bookings. Alberta’s government says it is providing $155,000 in funding toward the planning, staging and delivery of this competition.

“Alberta’s government is proud to invest in events like the Edmonton Athletics Invitational, which not only bring economic benefits and give our athletes a home-field advantage, but inspire the next generation of Alberta athletes,” says Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport. “Major sporting events spark an interest in sport and recreation, getting more kids out playing and being active.”

The Alberta government says the World Athletics Silver Continental Tour provides athletes with an opportunity to earn World Athletics Rankings points, which are essential for qualifying for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. The tour takes place from March to September with a total of 39 stops, and Edmonton will be playing host to the 23rd stop. Edmonton’s Marco Arop and Sherwood Park’s Amanda Rummery are among the 15 Alberta athletes competing. Both Arop and Rummery are Podium Alberta grant recipients, officials point out.

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Officials say Arop is the reigning world champion in the 800m after winning gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Hungary, Canada’s first ever gold medal at that distance. Arop made his Olympic debut in 2020, advancing to the semi-finals, and has his sights set on Paris. Likewise, Rummery is on the road to Paris as one of the best women para-runners in Canada. Provincial officials say Rummery made her major-games debut in 2019 at the Parapan American Games in Lima, and holds the Canadian record for the 100m, 200m and 400m races. Last month, she set a new T46 400m Canadian record time at the Franson Last Chance Meet in California.

“Athletics Alberta is honoured to once again bring this extraordinary event to our province,” exclaims Jef Bailey, executive director, Athletics Alberta. “Proudly, we have over a dozen Alberta athletes competing, including Edmonton’s Olympian, Marco Arop. Edmonton is set to showcase Alberta on the world stage to these world-class competitors on their path to Paris and the Olympics.”

The Edmonton Athletics Invitational, organized by Athletics Alberta, will showcase a range of events including the men’s and women’s 100m, 400m, 800m, and Hammer Throw; the men’s 110m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles and High Jump; and the women’s 100m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, Pole Vault, and Shot Put.

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