_A big welcome for the sports avant-garde - first triathlon race in Ohrid -
_ Followed by the announcements of NGO “Integrity AO” on 11 July 2009, the city of Ohrid was turned into a true world sporting center. The bad weather was not a reason for the first triathlon race event in Macedonia not to take place. At this event the attendants besides their great sporting spirit have shown their other great abilities.
In the announcement named “Ohrid Triatlon – Give it a try!”, the organizers have reported in details about the weather and the place where the event is held, and also they have reported about the rules and regulations and some notes regarding this kind of sport. Furthermore the trail that was intended and traced for the contestants to pass also was described and the contestants were divided into several competition groups. The triathlon is comprised of three athletic disciplines – swimming, running and cycling. This event was participated by not only professionals, but also amateurs who are involved into this sport and practice it out of recreation. By the declarations of the organizers and also by the contestants, next year’s planned event will be attended by competitors from foreign countries from all over the world. The hold of the First Triathlon event in Macedonia received a treatment as a first step in the process of actualization of this sport in the country and its becoming as a annual event that will be held each year from now on.
The race which received not only a character of a challenge but also a test for the attendants was an opportunity for finding the best Macedonian triathlete and carrier of a large amount of rewards. Stojan Poposki has managed one more time to glorify himself with total triumph on the event. He has finished in 61minutes and 53 seconds. Statements given after the competition have shown his fascination from the great organization and the given opportunity to compete in a fair competition. Also he has stated his life time wish to take part of the Olympic Games in 2012. Competitors placed on second and third place were Dushko Velichkovski and Nikola Kutanovski. These events are like real refreshment because they are coming in form of a wave of new things, of a promotion and exclusivity simply as a wave of change especially in times of intense need of sporting events that will satisfy the hunger of Macedonian society. For the first time, Macedonia have proven that it has capacities to deal with this kind of event, with which will enrich the history of Macedonian sport. This race have opened us a road to freely and with no braces to tell that Macedonia is a fertile soil for the creation of avant-garde events that are promising a lot.
The wide-open character of the event, is one condition more for starting the initiative for volunteerism which becomes a trademark of NGO”Integrity AO”. This is an opened institution for everyone who wants to volunteer, as a citizen association which cares about motivating and promoting the volunteerism. Throughout this event we’ve achieved two major goals: first one was the promotion of the triathlon as a sport and the other one was the promotion of the volunteerism as a new way of practicing their life goals.
