Will walk remain in Olympic Games programme?

President of the Panamerican Sports Organisation Mario Vazquez Rana stated that he would do everything possible to preserve walk in the programme of the Olympic Games.

Vazquez Rana spoke at a press conference in the Mexican capital in connection with the 114th IOC session which is slated to be held there and which must decide the question of possible removal of some events from the programme of the Olympics.

As a reassuring element, Vazquez Rana noted that such countries as Russia, Italy, Poland and Mexico whose representatives have won top honours at practically all the latest Summer Olympics will also struggle for keeping walk in the programme of the Games.

The head of the sports organisation which coordinates the activity of the national Olympic Committees of all the countries of the Western hemisphere noted that he would do his best to convince "the high sports spheres" that "expulsion of walk would be a mistake".

At the same time Rana admitted that the 50-kilometre walk has the highest chances not to be included in the programme of the Olympics, since "fewer athletes participate" in this event.