38. BOclassic – Edition 2012 with former winners – Bozen/Bolzano/ITA

15,000 spectators, crackling suspense and top class runners.  The BOclassic is considered to be the best cast New Year's Eve Run in the  world. Cross Country world champion Imane Merga from Ethopia is the first big star in the men's run. For the women's run, the current 5000m vice world champion Sylvia Kibet from Kenya is coming. Both already won in Bozen/Bolzano. The 38th edition was presented today.

In 1975, Bozen/Bolzano took the New Year's Eve Run of Sao Paolo as example: Bozen/Bolzano's own news Year's Eve Run was born. Today, the BOclassic is considered the best cast New Year's Eve Run in the world."In 2012 we want to fulfill this title again," says OC-president Gerhard Warasin in today's presentation in Bozen/Bolzano town hall. 15,000 spectators are supposed to bring great tension on the Walther square. The national broadcasting company Rai Sport again broadcasts the run live.

"Throughout Europe the crisis is noticeable; runs are cancelled. Nevertheless, we were able to bring some top-class runners to Bozen/Bolzano," athletic manager Gianni Demadonna says. The current Cross Country world champion and WC-third Imane Merga is the first big star of the 38th edition. In 2010, the Ethiopian won over double olympic champion Mo Farah in a trilling final. "This fact alone confirms the high level  of the BOclassic", says Demadonna.

Sylvia Kibet, the double vice world champion over 5000m is also coming. In the WC of 2009 and 2011, the Kenyan was defeated only by Vivienan Cheruiyot, the BOclassic winner of 2010 and 2011. Kibet won in Bozen/Bolzano in 2007. In 2008 she finished third. "Never mind which stars we will be able to oblige in the next few weeks, the BOclassic has already won a place in the heart of Bozen/Bolzano's audience," says Demadonna. Another star is the South Tyrolean Silvia Weissteiner. The WC seventh of 2009 over 5000m was in 2006 and 2011 third in Bozen/Bolzano.

In the run-up to the men's(10km)  and women's (5km) elite run, the BOclassic Ladurner amateur run over 5 km takes place on the original track. The BOclassic handbike run goes into its fourth edition. The Raiffeisen youth run celebrates an anniversary: it already takes place for the 30th time.

Programme:

31 December:

1.00 p.m. BOclassic Ladurner Amateur's run

1.40 p.m. Raiffeisen youth cup

2.30 p.m. BOclassic Handbike

3.00 p.m. BOclassic Elite women

3.30 p.m. BOclassic Elite men

Informations www.boclassic.it