Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Exchange program ends this weekend
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Sunday, September 21, 2008 | No comments posted.
This year marks the final year of the runner exchange between the Prefontaine Memorial Run and the Lasse Viren Run in Finland, said Bob Huggins, race director for the Pre.
The idea was generated by former Nike employee Geoff Hollister, Lasse Viren and Finnish runner Jaakko Tuominen. Nike paid the travel expenses the first few years, then each race paid for the runner it sent across the ocean. The past several years, the Prefontaine Memorial Run has funded runners going to both races.
The cost this year is about $3,000, a major expense when Nike also is scaling back funding for other elements of the race, Huggins said.
Huggins will miss the exchange program — he and his wife have played the role of host for the runners from Finland, while several other community members have treated the visitors to various aspects of South Coast life.
He said the decision to stop the exchange was mutual between the Prefontaine Memorial Committe and the organizers of the Lasse Viren run.
The idea was generated by former Nike employee Geoff Hollister, Lasse Viren and Finnish runner Jaakko Tuominen. Nike paid the travel expenses the first few years, then each race paid for the runner it sent across the ocean. The past several years, the Prefontaine Memorial Run has funded runners going to both races.
The cost this year is about $3,000, a major expense when Nike also is scaling back funding for other elements of the race, Huggins said.
Huggins will miss the exchange program — he and his wife have played the role of host for the runners from Finland, while several other community members have treated the visitors to various aspects of South Coast life.
He said the decision to stop the exchange was mutual between the Prefontaine Memorial Committe and the organizers of the Lasse Viren run.
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines