Our Countdown to Brisbane page will keep you posted on news and events leading up to the 14th WAVA World Veterans Track & Field Championships, July 4-14, 2001 in Brisbane, Australia. If you have anything you'd like to share, please email us at masterstrack.com.

•ENTRY #13 Fond Memories

The following is a bit long winded, but here is my full report on my trip to Australia:

Getting there...

It took about 20 hours of travel time to get from Portland to Brisbane. But the going was good. The flight from LAX to SYD was not bad at all, leaving at about 10pm and arriving early in the morning (two days later because we crossed the International Date Line). The time adjustment wasn't too difficult, because you have about 14 hours en route in which to get the equivalent of one decent night's sleep. Sleeping in the air just happens to be one of my few natural born talents, so no problem there. An unlimited supply of complimentary Australian Shiraz didn't hurt, either.

The amazing Land of OZ....

Brisbane is a beautiful, mid-sized city situated on a scenic, winding river. It's charm is that a fleet of boats called City-Cats, an integral part of the metro transport system, shuttle commuters around the river for a very modest fare. There aren't many bridges so that is how most of the local folks get around.

Everyone in Australia is friendly. Not in the "we want your tourist money" kind of way (typical of many countries), but in a pure and genuine kind of way. Another way to put it is that in three whole weeks I did not meet a single jerk in Australia. Seriously. I hate to say it, but in America, jerks are a dime a dozen. In Australia, they are nowhere to be found. What a culture shock! It took me a while to get used to this. I don't know what the explanation is, except that Australia is isolated and protected from a lot of the vermin that plague the rest of the world. I wish we could export all of our jerks to Australia for attitude adjustment, but I seriously doubt the Aussies would let them in.

I mention this because, even beyond its many physical attributes, Australia is a delight because of its people. It would take forever for me to describe all of the spontaneous acts of kindness I experienced on my trip. I can only imagine that all visitors experience and treasure these unselfish gestures as much as I.

The track meet....

I spent almost two weeks near Brisbane, living in a dorm room at Griffith University. The campus is picturesque and within walking distance of the imposing ANZ Stadium (seating capacity of 70K people) where the Masters Track & Field World Championships were held. My running was a mixed bag. I entered both the 800m and the 1500m in the men's 45-49 age division. I had hopes of making it to the finals in each event, but knew it would be a challenge since I was at the middle of my age group. The 800m started with about 45 competitors. I made it through the first round okay, narrowing the group to 18. But in the semi-finals, I finished 5th in my heat with a time of 2:03.91. That's about a second slower than I had hoped to run and gave me the 10th fastest time. Since only the top 8 made it into the finals, I did not advance (missing by about 7 tenths of a second). Rats. But in the 1500m, I did better. In the semifinals, I ran 4:12.65 (equivalent to a 4:31 mile). That is the fastest I have run since I was 29, so I can't complain. Twelve runners advanced to the 1500m finals, which were held the next day. My time made the cut, so I had the privilege of running with the best 45-49 year old runners in the world. In the final race, I ended up in tenth place with a time of 4:14.36. It was the best I could do on the second consecutive day of tough competition. I was exhausted, but satisfied with my effort.

Overall, I had a blast at this meet. It was well run and the meet organizers were friendly and helpful. My compliments to Jacey Octigan and her staff for doing a great job. For a more detailed analysis of the championships, I recommend ordering the August issue of National Masters News (natmanews@aol.com). Complete results are available on in our Meets & Results section.

Because of my work here on the masterstrack.com web site, I had the opportunity to meet dozens of people from around the world with whom I had previously exchanged email. This made the experience even more memorable for me. Exchanging smiles, handshakes, hugs, etc. with a lot of wonderful people is what it's really all about. The next championships will be held in Puerto Rico in 2003. Not the ideal location for a track meet in July and I will be age-disadvantaged at 49... but heck, I will probably go anyway. These meets are too fun to miss.

The Great Barrier Reef.....

After the closing ceremonies, I was on my own. Time to see more of Australia, so I set forth on my journey to the north. I took a high speed train four hours up the coast to a small town called Hervey Bay. I stayed in a little motel across the street from a pristine, virtually uninhabited beach. What a spectacular sunset! Early the next morning I took a small airplane from the Hervey Bay across 65 miles of pure blue sea to a remote little island on the Great Barrier Reef called Lady Elliot Island. LEI is a tiny dot in the middle of nowhere, with an unlikely looking 600m grass landing strip that bisects the island. This place had about 50 small guest units, a restaurant, a dive shop and that was about it. But it was plenty. You could wade into the water off shore and snorkel to your heart's content. With fond childhood memories of National Geographic etched in my brain, I was thrilled to go out there and see the real thing. It was fabulous. The underwater visibility was about 60 ft and the marine life and coral formations were amazing. I was fortunate to see a manta ray-- a magnificently graceful creature-- in addition to turtles, a shark, a sting ray and an abundance of technicolor fishes. I also met some interesting members of my own species on the island, making the four day experience all the better.

Back to the mainland...

I flew back to Hervey Bay and took a train-link bus inland as far is it would go (about one hour). I was picked up at the station by my next host, who drove about 45 miles to meet me. We went back to his very rural homestead, a 1500 acre ranch in the middle of nowhere (sorry to keep using that expression but it is apt for Australia). The property, known as the Edgehill, was nestled into gently sloping foothills overlooking many miles of open cattle grazing county. The valleys were mostly dry grasslands with scrubby trees, but the hills were dotted with thicker foliage. This was the bush country-- not red and barren like the deep Aussie interior, but wild and sparse nonetheless. I was presented the keys to a lovely little guest cottage a short walk from the family's main house. My private porch featured a breathtaking view of Mt. Walsh in the distance and overlooked a newly planted vineyard (future Edgehill wine).

My hosts could not have been more warm and hospitable. I was the only guest, so I was doted on by two of the nicest people I have ever met. Not only did Terry and Sue ply me with extravagant meals (including steaks on the barbie and delicious Shiraz) but they interrupted their sunrise-to-sunset travails to show me around. I spent two nights at the Edgehill, but I wish it could have been more. After dinner on the first night, Terry drove me around the property in pitch black darkness with his headlights off. When he turned them on, scores of wallabies got spooked and sprinted off into the darkness. Even more interesting that the bounding beasts was the fabulous night sky. I have never seen a sky so filled with glittering stars, including the Southern Cross, the wispy and densely clustered Milky Way, and a stunningly conspicuous Mars that seemed poised to send invaders to Earth .

Terry's knowledge of the stars was impressive. In fact, his vast knowledge of and respect for all aspects of his natural habitat seemed boundless. It gave me pause to consider how a lifestyle so isolated from technological advances, commercialism, and other modern-day distractions fosters such a profound appreciation for the wonders of life itself. It made me jealous.

The next day Terry (who is in his sixties but looks about 20 years younger) offered to take me on a hike to the top of Mt. Walsh. I agreed, so off we went. It was a pleasant 30 min drive to the base of the mountain, located in a rugged and undeveloped national park. It took us about two hours to climb a steep, barely discernible trail up to the top. Without Terry, I'm sure I would have gotten lost. But it was worth it once we got there. What a view-- a 360 degree panorama of the outback as far as the eye could see. We relaxed on a smooth rock, ate sandwiches and talked. Terry, as humble, wise, and gentle a soul as you'll find anywhere, shared with me some stories about his experiences in the Australian Air Corps during the Viet Nam War.

We got back to the homestead about noon. We could have called it a day, but my hosts thought I might be interested in visiting a "nearby" winery, known for its exceptional 1999 Shiraz (which can only be purchased at the winery). So we hopped back in the car and drove an hour (considered a short distance in these parts) and arrived a funky little shack (in the middle of nowhere) which was, sure enough, a wine tasting establishment. It was a long drive on scary one-lane roads, but well worth it. I purchased two bottles of the outstanding '99 (pricey by local standards $16 each). I gave one to Terry and Sue for all their generosity and crammed the other into my suitcase for some future special occasion.

Last day in Australia...

It was tough parting the next day, but after a big breakfast I was back on the train. After four hours of rail travel, I arrived in Brisbane. Then I caught a flight to Sydney and arrived in the big city about 7pm. By the time I got to a hotel, it was about 9 pm and I was pretty tuckered out. This was my last night in Australia so I splurged and got a deluxe room on the 26th floor of the Millennium Hotel, overlooking Sydney Harbor. Because of the favorable exchange rate, everything in Australia was very affordable. This extravagance (which included a buffet breakfast) only cost me about $50 US. The next morning I was up at the crack of dawn to catch my return flight to the America. I was surprised to see-- after three weeks of continuous sunshine-- a blanket of gray, drizzly weather outside. I took this as an omen it was time to return home to Portland, Oregon.

So, I did. But the memories of Australia will last forever... thanks to everyone who made it so great.

See you in Puerto Rico!
-Dave Clingan

The WAVA Championships were a huge success, no doubt the best world championships ever. My congratulations to Jacey Octigan and all the other fine folks in Brisbane for doing such an outstanding job. The organizers, volunteers and official deserve all the praise and appreciation we can give them.

To see the competition results go to the official Championships website and click on "results".

I hope to post a more complete report on the Championships and my Australian adventures on this page when can find some time to do so in the near future.

•ENTRY #11 (2 Days To Go) Bon Voyage!

It's hard to believe, but this is my last update prior to the Championships. I'll be boarding a plane to Brisbane today (with connections thru LA and Sydney), arriving on Tuesday, July 3 (where the heck does Monday go?).

Latest info on the Championships Site includes downloadable documents regarding use of the bus system and non-stadia events. Weather forecast for Brisbane looks good temperature-wise (lows around 50F and highs around 70F) but a little overcast with showers expected later in the week.

By sometime on Tuesday, I should be set up with a Masterstrack.com booth at the expo pavilion. Please, come and visit me! I may not be there much of the time, but I will have a message board which I will be checking frequently.

At this point, the only thing left to say is have a save trip and enjoy your time in Brisbane. To all athletes, I wish you the very best of luck in you competitions.

See you there...
Dave Clingan (M45 800m & 1500m)

•ENTRY #10 (8 Days To Go) Latest Info..

The following info is provided to us by the WAVA Championships event organizers (in their final newsletter). However, before diving into the vital information below, I'd like to pass along the news that XXXX Beer has just been signed on as one of the official meet sponsors. Needless to say, I am hoping that by making this absolutely no-strings-attached public service announcement, I will get at least one complimentary and refreshing XXXX Beer during my stay. I figure any beer with that many X's in it has got to be good. Now for the really important stuff...

CONFIRMATIONS
By now, athletes should have received their accreditation letters. This contains vital information about your entry. Check it carefully and make sure it is correct. If it is not, contact gavin@worldvac2001.com.au .

ENTRY LISTS
For the first time ever, you can check the names of registered athletes in advance on-line. Go to the Championships site at http://www.worldvac2001.com.au/frameset.htm and click on "Registered Athletes".

COMPETITION SCHEDULE
The complete schedule of events is also now posted on on-line. Go to the same address mentioned above and click on "Competition Schedule".

AIRPORT TRANSFERS
All accredited athletes and accredited accompanying persons will have received their Coachtrans ticket in their accreditation letter. This ticket will enable you to transfer from the airport to the official accommodation precincts. The Coachtrans ticket is valid from 1 July until 16 July. For those athletes wishing to catch a taxi to the city, there are taxi ranks located outside the Brisbane Domestic and International Airports. A taxi to the city will cost approximately $25-$30.

TRANSPORT
All accredited athletes and accredited accompanying persons will have received One-Way Bus ticket in their accreditation letter. This allows you to travel to ANZ Stadium from an official accommodation precinct. Once at ANZ Stadium, you will be issued with your WAVA bus pass which will allow you to travel on the Championships Transport Service free of charge on those routes listed in your Championships Guide.

To get to ANZ Stadium, ask your concierge for the nearest bus to take you to the Queen Street Mall bus station located under the Queen Street Mall in the centre of the city. From there, catch the 111 or 160 along the busway to the Griffith University Bus Station. Exit here and you can then catch the WAVA Shuttle service which takes you directly into the Stadium. There will be volunteers (dressed in yellow) at the Queen Street Mall bus station and Griffith University Bus Station to assist and direct you.

ACCOMMODATION PRECINCTS
The officials accommodation precincts are the following: Brisbane City, Spring Hill, South Brisban,e Kangaroo Point, University of Queensland, Griffith University including Robertson Gardens.

REGISTRATION
All athletes must register at ANZ Stadium. Registration opens at midday on Monday 2 July. The registration centre is located in the Athlete Services Centre on the ground floor of ANZ Stadium. Registration will be open for all competition days from 7.00am until 7.00pm and on rest days from 8.00am until 5.00pm. Registration will be open on Tuesday 3 July from 7.00am until 7.00pm.

COMPETITION
Where do I declare for my event? Declaration for events at ANZ Stadium, Griffith University and the State Athletics Centre can be done at the Athlete Services Centre at ANZ Stadium. Declaration for events at the University of Queensland can be done at the University track. Declaration for events up to 10am each competition day can be completed at both ANZ Stadium and the University of Queensland the day prior to the event.

DECLARATIONS
TRACK EVENTS - Declaration for a track event must be made at least two hours prior to the scheduled starting time of that event.
FIELD EVENTS - No declaration is required, however field event competitors will need to check the declaration board in the two hours before their event to confirm their marshalling and starting times in events with high participation.
--Field events with 26+ entries: seeded pools will be allocated before the event.
--Field events with 19-25 entries: seeded pools may be allocated at the event by the Chief Judge Field events with 18 or less: one group only.
MULTIPLE EVENTS - No declaration is required, however, athletes will need to check the declaration board on the preceding day to confirm the starting time of the pool to which they have been allocated.

MARATHON
A new marathon course has been approved for the Championships. This course starts and finishes at South Bank, skirts both sides of the Brisbane River in a picturesque setting. The course is perdominantly flat with plenty of shade and views of the river at every turn. The course will be posted on the Internet this week.

MONEY EXCHANGE
A money exchange will be located inside the QEII Sports Club at ANZ Stadium for those athletes wishing to exchange money. There is also an Automatic Teller Machine which has Cirrus access for those wishing to access cash from their overseas bank accounts.

DAILY MEALS
On the second floor of the QEII Sports Club, athletes will be able to purchase meals ranging from $4.50 to $11.00. Each meal includes bread and a drink. There is a variety of meals available from soup to vegetarian to salad or a cooked lunch. Breakfast buffets are also available in the Club at Redgums from 8.00am until 10.00am for $10.00.

CONFIRMATIONS
All accreditation letters have been posted so check your mail box over the next few days. Please remember to fill out the Requested Information Sheet and send it back to us so that we can ensure we provide you with the best service throughout the Championships. Remember you can fill in the sheet on-line at our website at www.worldvac2001.com.au

EVENT TIMES
At present times for each individual event are still being finalised. Now that all entries have been received we are looking at finalising thecompetition program. Many athletes have contacted our office enquiring as tothe time of their event. Unfortunately we are unable to give out this information for stadia events at this time. The event times will be published on our web site as soon as they are finalised - this is expected to be in the next couple of weeks. Athletes are reminded though that timesmay change and that they should check the notice board each day in case of a time change. Athletes will also be able to find out the time of their event when they register at the Athlete Services Centre.

RESULTS
Results will be available for purchase the day after your competition from the ticket office for $1 each. All results are printed on a commemorative Certificate of Result for the Championships.

CARDCALL
Every athlete, accompanying person, official, volunteer and media person will receive the commemorative phone card in their registration packs courtesy of Telecorp Limited. It is simple to use - just phone the number on the back of the card and you can pre-charge your card using a credit card or take it to a local Australia Post office and pay cash to charge it up. Then everytime you wish to call home - you need only call a local Australian number, log in your pin number and then dial anywhere in the world to over 250 countries!

WHAT THE WEATHER WILL BE LIKE IN JULY
For those athletes travelling to Brisbane from overseas and interstate, you can expect the following weather for July. The daily temperature will sit around 21 degrees celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit with an evening temperature around 9 degrees celsius or 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Most days in July are clear and sunny and the evenings can get quite chilly. The sun rises around 6.00am and sets around 5.30pm. What to bring? You will need to ensure that you bring a jacket or jumper for the evenings and you may need wear a jumper for the early mornings. Presently the day has warmed up by 10.00am and it starts to get cold around 4.30pm however throughout the day the weather is fairly mild and most times you can get around in a t-shirt or light top. We hope this assists you in your packing for your trip to our city.

PHOTOGRAPHER
The Championships Photographer will be TCS Photographics. TCS Photographics will be taking photos from all events and medal presentations and will be located at ANZ Stadium at the Athlete Concourse. Photos are available to purchase from $10 and TCS offer a same day service for all events.

MEDAL ENGRAVER
Get your medals engraved on the spot by Geoff, our friendly Engraver. Geoff will be located behind the ceremonies dias at ANZ Stadium and will offer medal engraving at $5 per medal.

JAZZ & BEER FESTIVAL
On Sunday 8 July (athlete's rest day) athletes and visitors are invited to join the locals at the Story Bridge Hotel for a Jazz and Beer Festival. All athletes will be admitted free of charge if they show their accreditation. You can visit the the Story Bridge Hotel using your WAVA Bus Pass. The Story Bridge Hotel/Kangaroo Point bus departs the Queen Street Mall Bus Station on a regular timetable throughout the Championships or for those athletes located in the city catch a ferry from the Eagle Street Pier to Thornton Street and walk around the corner to find the pub.

SHOUT* A VOLLIE OR OFFICIAL A DRINK
*Shout - Australian slang - to buy someone a drink We couldn't put on these Championships without the dedication and hard work from our volunteers and officials. We cannot do this without them! As a thank-you to all our hardworking volunteers and officials there will be special money bins located throughout the Athlete Service Centre and the Concourse. We encourage you all to throw some gold coins or notes into these bins and buy one of our volunteers or officials a drink at the Thank You Party to be held in the QEII Sports Club on Friday 13 July. Athletes are welcome to attend.

TRANSPORT
Brisbane Transport has been working hard with the Local Organising Committee to finalise all schedules for the Championships. Athletes can access the QEII Sports Complex by catching a bus from the Queen Street Mall along the new busway and out to the Mt Gravatt Bus Station. From here transfer to your WAVA Shuttle service which will take you directly into the Stadium's grounds. Our WAVA volunteers will be located in the Queen Street Mall bus tunnel and at the Mt Gravatt Bus Station to direct you onto the correct WAVA buses. Please check with your concierge on arrival for your local bus stop and bus number.

ATHLETE - REQUESTED INFORMATION SHEET

To ensure that we deliver the best possible Championships to you, we are requesting that you complete the Requested Information Sheet included in your accreditation letter. Alternatively, you can complete this form on the Internet at www.worldvac2001.com.au. This information which is kept confidential will assist us in preparing schedules and information to our staff members throughout the Championships. It also highlights to our medical team any important information on previous medical history or medications you are taking in the case of an emergency. The information is not compulsory however it will assist us greatly in our preparations.

COMPETITION UPDATE - by Donna Spethman, Sports Services Manager

Pre WAVA Champs Athletic Meets:

Many athletes have asked the question as to whether there will be any local athletic meets prior to the July championships. In Brisbane, there will be meets on 23 and 30 June held at theAthletics Centre (next to ANZ stadium). The cost to enter these meets is AUD$5 and is payable upon entry to the ground.

There will be a meet held on the 1 July. It will be held at the Gold Coast International Athletics Center on Griffith University Campus at Parklands on the Gold Coast.

For those not familiar to the South East Queensland region, the Gold Coast is located 75 kms south of Brisbane city. It is the second largest populated area in Queensland. Athletes will be responsible for their own transport to this meet and the others mentioned below.

VIEWING THE CROSS COUNTRY COURSE

Athletes participating in the Cross Country event will be able to view the Cross Country Course on Tuesday 3 July from 11am to 2pm only. Athletes will not be able to view the course at any other time. Athletes can access the course from the University of Queensland where a shuttle service will take you to the Cross Country Course. The shuttle service will leave from the bus bay at Chancellors Place. A fare of $2 is applicable for the round trip to the Cross Country Course and back to the University of Queensland for this day only. Your bus pass will give you free transport on the day of competition.

SHOES AND SPIKES AT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Many athletes have enquired about the length of their spikes that are allowed in certain events. The following is a breakdown of what lengths are permitted at each of the three venues:

> University of Queensland
6mm for Track, Horizontal Jumps and Pole Vault
9mm for Javelin and Hight Jump

> State Athletics Centre and ANZ Stadium
6mm for Track, Horizontal Jumps and Pole Vault
9mm for Javelin and High Jump

INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES - IMPORTANT INFORMATION

It is imperative for all athletes who are arriving to Australia from an overseas destination to ensure that your spikes are cleaned and disinfected before entry to Australia. Because of strict quarantine controls in place due to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in Europe, customs officers at Australian Airports will check all implements and spikes on arrival. If they feel that the spikes are not properly cleaned, they will clean them at the airport before they allow you to pass Customs Control. Please do not feel that we are asking you to not bring your spikes - just ensure they are clean when you leave your own country.

TASTE OF AUSTRALIA PARTY NIGHT

Ever tried Kangaroo Meat or Crocodile sausages from Darwin? Or would you like to sample one of the 1000 dozen (12,000) oysters from Sydney? Or are the King Island Dairy Cheeses more to your taste? The Taste of Australia will be held on Tuesday 10 July 2001 at the RNA Showgrounds in Fortitude Valley. This is the biggest party night of the year with an estimated 3,000 people enjoying flavours and food from around the country in seven different themed buffets. There is no set dinner for the evening or limit to how much you eat - instead you can wander from buffet to buffet and sample all the different food on show until you are full! Australian music and entertainment will flow through the evening.

Tickets will be on sale until "sold out" at the Ticket Office located in the Athlete Service Centre on the Ground Floor of ANZ Stadium.

INFORMATION IN COMING TO AUSTRALIA - INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES

The following is a guideline for travelling in Australia for our International athletes:

Electricity - The electrical current in Australia is 220-240 volts, AC 50Hz. The Australian three pin power outlet is different from that in some countries so you will need an adaptor. Please make sure if you need an adaptor or voltage converter before coming to Australia with electrical appliances.

Road - In Australia we drive on the left hand side of the road (same as the UK). In your registration kits will be some information on driving in Australia including general road rules. For those hiring cars, both ANZ Stadium and St Lucia are about 12 minutes from the city centre.

Currency - currency in Australia is in decimal currency and are all different in size and colour. Notes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c and $1 and $2. There is no one cent or two cents in Australia - everything is either rounded up or down for currency. You can exchange currency at the airport or in the city or tourist destinations. Most international currency using Cirrus and Maestro can be accessed at most Automatic Teller Machines at banks throughout Brisbane.

RESTAURANT BOOKING SERVICE

A Restaurant Booking Service will be located in the Athlete Service Centre at ANZ Stadium for those athletes and participants who wish to reserve a table at a restaurant in the city or near their accommodation precinct. A Brisbane staff member will be on hand to make the booking for you and to also show you the range of restaurants and cuisine available. Restaurants on the list range from casual dining to five star elegance. The service will be available from 1.00pm until 6.00pm. Refer to your Championships Guide for more details.

TRANSPORT

We will provide airport transfers from 1 July 2001 until 16 July 2001 for all registered participants between the airport and the official accommodation precincts. This service will be provided by Coachtrans. Please refer to your coachtrans letter to organise your transfer and collect your vouchers for travel at the airport on arrival. For those wishing to not use this system, taxis are available outside each airport terminal. The approximate cost to travel to the Brisbane City Centre in a standard taxi (which holds 4 persons) is AUD $30.

The Championships Transport Service will be provided by Brisbane Transport. All registered participants will receive a WAVA Bus Pass that will enable them to travel free of charge on the buses listed in the Championships Guide. The Guide will be in your registration kits. The Transport routes will be between all venues and official accommodation precincts. If your hotel is outside these areas, you will have to make your own way to either a venue or an accommodation precinct to access the service.

The accommodation precincts are the city, Spring Hill, Kangaroo Point, South Brisbane/West End, the University of Queensland and Griffith University. For those athletes staying at Robertson Gardens, your precinct comes under Griffith University.

THE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP PROGRAM

The World Veterans' Athletics Championships are pleased to announce the Queen Street Mall as sponsor for the International Friendship Program.

This generous sponsorship has enabled WAVA to produce the International Friendship Badges and distribute them free of charge to all participants at the Championships and businesses throughout Brisbane. Every athlete, accompanying person, official or volunteer will receive their badge in their registration pack which highlights which language outside of English that they speak. This will enable people from around the world to easily identify other persons who speak their language. The badge will also be available to hotels, tourism staff, major tourist and cultural attractions in the city and retailers in the Queen Street Mall. The Queen Street Mall is located in the heart of the city and is the hub for transport during the Championships.

•ENTRY #7 (55 Days To Go) Entries Are Closed!

It is now only 8 weeks until the games begin! At this point all entries are closed. Meet officials have promised that confirmations will be sent to all participating athletes in mid-May.

Meet officials have also reported that the list of participating athletes well be made publicly available early in June. This will be a first for WAVA Championships: an opportunity in advance to see who will be attending from around the world. USA Entry List is now avaiable on-line.

To keep abreast of continuing developments regarding the Championships, visit the official Championships web site and check out the monthly newsletter. You will find tons of useful information about the staff, facilities, touring opportunities, etc. Also, you will enjoy fun details such as samples of Aussie lingo. The most recent edition reports the following currency conversions with regard to beverages:

Can of Coke A$1.30 = £0.45 = US $0.67
Pot of Beer A$2.20 = £0.77 = US $1.13
Cappucino A$2.50 = £0.87 = US $1.28
Bottle of Lindemans Bin 65 (Chardonnay) A $7.00 = £2.45 = US $3.58
750ml of Smirnoff Vodka A$24.99 = £8.73 = US $12.79

This means I can chug a pot of beer, chase it with a shot of vodka, and top it off with an esspresso for less than US$5. Not bad! (I don't know how much beer is in a "pot", but I'm sure I will find out.)

Train hard, but stay healthy!

•ENTRY #6 (140 Days To Go) ACT NOW!!

Attention Athletes! The deadline for submitting you entry is coming up SOON! Many countries, including the USA, must receive your completed entry form by March 1, 2001. That's only two weeks away, so if you are planning on competing in the WAVA Championships, you must act quickly!

There is still time, if you follow these instructions:

First, you need to fill out an entry form. If you don't already have one, you can download one (pdf) here:
WAVA Entry Form.

Next, send it in to your country's WAVA office right away. If you are a US athlete, send it to:

USA TRACK & FIELD
Mark Springer Director Of Grass Roots Programs
One RCA Dome, Suite 140
Indianapolis, IN 46225
RE: USATF - WAVA ENTRY

Your entry MUST include:

1) Proof of age (copy of birth certificate or passport)
--- For on-line passport application go to: http://travel.state.gov/dsp82.pdf

2) 2001 USATF Membership number
--- For a 2001 USATF Membership number call: 317-261-0500

After you've submitted your entry form, here are a few more things to consider:

1) Get a Visa.

You need a visa to visit Australia. It can be obtained from an airline representative or travel agent.

2) Check the competition schedule.

To find out when your events take place fo to the official WAVA site (click "Men's Program" or "Women's Program")

3) Book your flight!

Pat & Mike's Travel offers the following:
Discounted WAVA Air fares from LA to Brisbane are $1219.00 plus tax. This is for travel on Mondays through Thursdays. If you want to travel on Thursdays through Sundays, add $35 for each direction.

For assistance with air travel, check out their web site at: www.patandmikestravel.com or contact their Australian travel specialist, Bill Dietzler at Bill@PatandMikesTravel.com or call his toll free number at (800) 898-9963.

4) Book your accomodations!

Affordable dorm housing and hotel accomodations are offered through General Australia Travel at gtbne@ozemail.com.au. The rates are shown on the WAVA site (click "Accommodation")

5) Think about snorkeling!

If you are interested in spending a few days snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef after the competition is over (July 15-19) please contact me! I've reserved some reef units at Lady Elliott Island for fellow reef sea life enthusiasts. This involves a train ride north from Brisbane to Hervey Bay and a short flight from Hervey Bay to the Island. If you'd like more info, email me!

Dave Clingan

The latest information I have received from sources in the travel industry indicate that airfares from the west coast of the USA to Brisbane via Sydney will be more expensive than originally expected. The economical low rates that were offered during the same travel period in 2000 will apparently not be available in 2001. Unfortunately, the $1300 or so rates that are currently being offered are not likely to go down. Therefore, it may be advisableNOT to wait until next year to book your tickets. I highly recommend consulting with an experienced travel agent about this. My travel agent (Bill Dietzler) who specializes in Australian travel is available if you have any questions at Bill@PatandMikesTravel.com or call his toll free number at (800) 898-9963.

Championship entry books are in the works and should be available soon from regional WAVA affiliates world-wide. Meet organizers have posted detailed cost information for participating in the championships on their web site at www.worldvac2001.com.au (click on the INFORMATION link).

•ENTRY #3 (382 Days To Go)

"There are more ways to die in Australia than any other place on earth", says Bill Bryson, travel writer and author of "In A Sunburned Country". He's referring, of course, to the likes of toxic caterpillars, poisonous snakes, treacherous spiders and lethal jellyfish. He makes no mention, however, of running over hurdles at full speed or attempting to pole vault at ages 40 to 100. But these, and other incredible death-defying acts, will surely transpire at the 2001 WAVA Championships in Brisbane.

Personally, I'm not worried about the spiders and snakes. I'll admit, though, I'm a little concerned about surviving the middle distance events. According to the provisional event schedule, running both the 800m and 1500m events will require six tough races in eight days (counting heats, semis and finals). It's going to be a challenge, all right. But I'm not "whingeing" about it (any Australian English dictionaries will tell you what that means). Every athlete will be challenged to do his or her personal best, regardless of age, natural ability or physical limitations. That's what makes this particular sports event so rewarding. To participate, and to observe the participation of others, is an experience not to be missed.

Championship organizers have recently posted a detailed event schedule of athletic programs (click on "Men's Program" or "Women's Program"). The first two days (July 4 and 5) are devoted to cross country, decathlon, racewalks and intermediate hurdle trials. The 100m dash and other track and field events get underway starting July 6. The official Welcoming Ceremony will take place on July 7. An Australian Bush Banquet (or "nosh up") is scheduled for July 10. This culinary event sounds fun and appetizing, although none of the authentic aboriginal "bush tucker" I've been reading about (succulent grubs and whatnot) is mentioned on the menu. No competition is scheduled for July 11, presumably a day to digest. Finally, the championships conclude on July 14, culminating in closing ceremonies at the exotic South Bank Parklands across the river from the Brisbane's City Centre complete with fireworks.

The latest drum on places to stay: there are numerous options available for accommodations with shuttle service to and from the competition venues (check out accommodations). However, dorm rooms at one of the universities, are already full. Janet Hewitt, Regional Manager, Queensland of General Travel Australia says, "Griffith University is completely booked but there is still plenty of university accommodation at the University of Queensland at St Lucia which is also one of the WAVA ChampionshipsÕ stadia venues.

•ENTRY #2 (405 Days To Go)

Destination Brisbane (pronounced "briz-bin")... yes, it's a long way from most places, but well worth the trip for touring runners and running tourists. The WAVA Championships in July 2001 will occur during Brisbane's dry season and the temperatures are likely to be comfortable (10-20 degrees C or 50-68 degrees F). Ideal conditions for a world championship track & field competition.

Latest news for athletes from the meet organizers is that the entry fee paid all by participants will include (among other benefits) a free Championship magazine/program . The program will include over "100 pages in full colour gloss and include all the names of the competitors, program scheduling, and all details pertaining to the Championships i.e., transport routes, venue maps, information services, etc." In addition, for athletes seeking easy access to registration materials, the full entry book including entry form will be available on the internet for downloading at the official event web site www.worldvac2001.com.au. New breakthroughs for the WAVA Championships.

More news for web oriented athletes.... Yours truly (MastersTrack.com) will be manning a booth at the championships to promote our web site (that is, when we're not running, jumping, hurdling, hyperventilating, taking pictures, or having fun somewhere else). We're not exactly sure what we'll do there, so we're open to suggestions. But we intend to have a computer and thanks to meet organizers, who are providing us with power and phone line, we'll be all hooked up and on-line for live reports from down under.

More news for beer drinkers... According to Australian beer aficionado Bruce Roan, the Brisbane pub scene offers easy access to a plethora of watering holes. His research states:" there are 77 pubs within 500 meters of any railway station. There are 112 stations and 36 of them have pubs, or to put it another way, there is a one in three chance of finding a pub at a railway station." (I didn't make that up.)

•ENTRY #1 (423 Days To Go) Let's Get Started!

First thing's first... The WAVA Championships is an international track & field competition for "veterans" (also known as "masters") athletes held every two years in various locations around the world. Anyone over 40 (male) or over 35 (female) is eligible to compete (there are no qualifying standards). There is a complete program of track & field events, all of which are contested in 5 year age groups. The competition tends to draw over 6000 participants. Competitors run the gamut from casual fitness buffs to former Olympians and elite athletes.

Only the very best athletes in the world take home highly coveted gold, silver, or bronze medals. But everyone (and I mean EVERYONE!) has a great time. (More about WAVA is available at www.wava.org.)

Brisbane, Australia, has been selected as the site of the next WAVA Championships. Yes, it's still 423 days away from the big event, but there is already a lot of good information available. Check out the official web site at www.worldvac2001.com.au. This will be your definitive source of specific info about the following subjects: dates and programs, athlete services, accommodations, venues, registration, etc. This site offers a couple of other interesting features, for example, you can sign up to receive an electronic newsletter, join a newsgroup, or send a postcard of Australia to a friend! You will find the meet organizers extremely helpful if you have any questions. Just email them at wavainfo@qldevents.com.au

Here are a couple of informational tidbits I gleaned from the web site. First, it appears that all registered athletes will be invited to participate in the official Welcoming Ceremony on Saturday, July 7. (I recall that during the last championship in Gateshead, England, participation was restricted to only 20 athletes from each country). Second, there are a wide variety of accommodations available, with free transportation to and from the competition venues. For those of us on a tight budget, very affordable university housing is offered for as low as $52 AUD per person per day, including breakfast (that's only about $30 US!). Finally, specific event schedules and registration information have not been posted yet, but should be coming soon. Entry forms are scheduled to be available from your WAVA National governing body in July.

If you're already getting excited about Australia (like I am) it's time to start talking to a travel agent. For many of us, going to Australia is a once in a lifetime experience. Gotta make the most of it!

I found a travel agent who specializes in Australia. His name is Bill Dietzler and he works for Pat & Mikes Travel Company, Inc. After an hour of chatting with Bill, I learned a lot about traveling to and from Australia, and things to do once you get there.

My first question, naturally, was how much will this cost? Basically, if you are traveling from the US, you can get a RT trip ticket from LA to Brisbane for as low as about $800. (Cost of getting to and from LA is additional). Flying to Australia during July (their winter) is the least expensive time to go. In order to get the best possible fare, you generally need to book your flights around February when the airlines offer their lowest prices. I suggest that anyone going to Australia enlist a travel agent to insure that you get the best possible fare. I highly recommend Bill, who has lots of expertise in ticketing and touring Australia. He can not only get the best available air fares, but will provide other services such as getting your visa, booking tours, and answering just about any question you might have. You can contact Bill at Bill@PatandMikesTravel.com or call his toll free number at (800) 898-9963. His agency also has a web site at www.patandmikestravel.com.

I still have a lot to learn about Australia. Bill will be helping me develop a post-event itinerary to insure that I don't go home without taking in some of Australia's outstanding attractions, including the Great Barrier Reef, the tropical rain forest, aboriginal culture, etc. More on that in future installments (which I promise will be more brief!).

Have Spikes, Will Travel
--Dave