President Nebiolo's Congratulations for El Guerrouj
I am delighted to be able to offer my congratulations – for the third time in 21 days
– on the occasion of another world record in athletics. My delight in the achievement
of Hicham El Guerrouj last night was heightened by the fact that the young Moroccan
achieved his feat in my "home" stadium – the Olympic Stadium of Rome but
especially because the performance was not just a time trial but a real race. For this
reason I also want to send my best wishes to the new Kenyan star Noah Ngeny – who is
a fantastic young talent who we will hear a lot about in the coming years. His brave duel
with El Guerrouj led to a spectacular last lap and surely a faster final time than if the
Moroccan had been running alone. I now anticipate an incredible race at the World
Championships in Seville when these two great runners meet the Spanish middle distance
stars Fermin Cacho and Reyes Estevez.