Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
Through the cooperation agreement FÍF has made with Dansk Atletik Forbund, Faroese athletes are at last a recognised part of world athletics under the Danish federation. Our competitions can now be ratified and recorded in Danish statistics. But for this to be possible, a qualified official must be present at competitions, and running events also require a qualified starter.
Back row from left: Randi Kúrberg, Karin K. Petersen, Uni Højgaard, Helgi Geyti, Michael Feldballe, Guttorm Sørensen and John Frøberg
Front row from left: Jonhard Larsen, Eyðdis Andreasen, Svend Åge Seloy, Sunniva Bjarnastein, Niels Jákup Jakobsen, Hallur Holm, Heðin Johannessen, Andreas Josephsen, Heri Ziska and Preben Mangart.
The last officials’ course held in the Faroe Islands was in the first half of the ’90s, so it is fair to say that this was a very fitting time to train new officials.
The outgoing chair of FÍF, Heri Ziska, was the main organiser of the courses. Two officials from DAF with long experience as officials and long experience of life were invited to the Faroe Islands to run the courses. They were Preben Mangart (39) and John Frøberg (39), both of whom have competed in athletics at a high level themselves. Preben Mangart is still active and holds several Danish veterans’ records in the 100 m and the long jump. John Frøberg, who in his younger years was a very capable thrower, was an official at the Island Games in the Faroe Islands in 1989.
Preben Mangart and John Frøberg
No fewer than 14 participants were keen to become athletics officials. 5 came from Hvirlan, 3 from Treysti and 4 from Bragdið. In addition, the competition committee had two representatives. All 14 passed the exam, which took place after the course had finished. Andreas Josephsen took part on the second day, and although he cannot yet call himself an official, he can call himself an event official in the jumping events.
The course was held on Friday from 15:00 to 22:00 and then again from Saturday morning until well into the afternoon, when the exams took place. At around 17:30 it was all over. But not for everyone. On the 2nd day of Whitsun (Whit Monday) the starters’ course was on the programme. There were places for 6 participants, all of whom had to have passed the officials’ course beforehand. Taking part in this course were Helgi, Randi, Uni, Sunniva, Niels Jákup and Hallur. This course ran from 9:30 to 15:30, and all the participants received their starter’s certificate. That day we had practical starting exercises with the “bunnies” from Hvirlan. Thanks to them!
And thanks to Heri for organising and to Randi for her fine hospitality. Thanks also to Niels Jákup for a good excursion with the undersigned and our Danish guests to Norðradalur, Velbastaður and Kirkjubøur. They could hardly have had a better guide.
All in all, a very successful and necessary event and a good investment in athletics.
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