Posted: November 19, 2004

Athletics: Baldini, De Lima To Meet In Milano Ceremony

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

Stefano Baldini and Vanderlei de Lima, the gold and bronze medallists in the marathon at this year's Olympic Games, will meet in a show of sportsmanship in Milano next Friday, organizers of the Citroen Milano City Marathon announced today.

Baldini, who will not contest the Milano race but is an ambassador for the event, will participate in a ceremony with de Lima, the Brazilian runner who was pushed off the Olympic marathon course while leading the race in the latter stages. The two who will meet for the first time since their Olympic podium appearance in August. De Lima, who also will not contest the weekend's marathon, was invited by organizers to take part in the pre-race event.

The fifth Milano City Marathon will be held on Sunday, November 28. 1996 Olympic champion Josiah Thugwane of South Africa and Italian Gloria Marconi, winner of last year's Rome Marathon, were the leading elites announced today.