The IAAF did not just single out the pole vault, hammer or discus, it is
just that those are the only field events we are having at this year's
adidas Oregon Track Classic. All the throws and jumps would be changed.
Also, the experiment is not just here, it's all the GP II meets (although
I've heard that Gateshead has gotten out of it). The first time they tried
the new rules was at the GP II meet in South Africa in March.
Paul Banta
adidas Oregon Track Classic
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 5:18 AM
Subject: Re: t-and-f: New rules to challenge athletes at adidas Oregon
> I am glad to see it is just a trial basis. However, I suspect this is the
> first step to something more. For one, the "experiment" is taking place
in
> the U.S. Secondly, I can't help but express how short-sighted the
> decision-making appears to me: Fans who make the effort to travel to a
meet,
> sit in the stands in all kinds of weather, etc. are not fair weather fans.
I
> suspect that the decision to buy or not to buy a ticket to the meet is not
> based on the "length" of the pole vault competition. Television's (live)
one
> hour "recap" is not a factor, anyway, as live events tend to show all
track
> and very little field. Next day tape delay is not a factor. So as a fan,
if
> I'm sitting in the stands and the 5000 is complete and there are still
some
> vaulters and jumpers left on the field, who cares? If I'm a true jump
fan, I
> stay and watch. If not, I get up and leave. Either way, I've paid for my
> ticket. Finally, I find it somewhat humorous that the ONE event that the
> U.S. DOMINATES is one picked for experimentation. Did I hear someone say
> "HELLO?" So I'm still struggling with this and still asking: WHY?
>
