THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511100642
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Norfolk State University will hold a pre-Olympic training camp and track and field meet for African nations in preparation for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Firm dates have not been set, but Norfolk State men's track and field coach Steve Riddick said he expects the camp to begin in early May and run for up to six weeks.
The Atlanta Olympics are scheduled to run July 19 to Aug. 4.
According to Riddick, the camp will be for track and field participants, basketball teams and baseball teams. Norfolk State's 1,600-seat baseball facility, currently under construction, is slated for completion this coming spring.
``We're prepared to house as many as 1,000 athletes,'' Riddick said.
Riddick and Norfolk State men's basketball coach Mike Bernard, in partnership with the D.C.-based Whitfield Foundation, attended the All-African Games in Zimbabwe on Sept. 10-21. It was a goodwill mission that laid the foundation for the pre-Olympic camp.
``We went for several reasons,'' said Riddick. ``And with the Olympics being held in the southeast corridor of the United States, we saw this as a good opportunity to showcase Norfolk State. What better way to get involved in third-world countries?
``This should open new avenues in recruiting exchange students and the development of our cultural exchange program.''
Riddick said Albany State (Ga.) and Savannah State will also hold similar camps and meets designed for Kenyan and Cuban athletes. The three schools will coordinate their meets to allow athletes at all three sites to participate in each meet.
Riddick added that the camp will put Norfolk State on the ``global market'' as far as recruiting is concerned.
``We're going to make the world our recruiting ground,'' Riddick said. by CNB