Waidyatilaka ITO for World Youth C'ships and World Masters

Sampath Bandara

P. H. D. Waidyatilaka Vice President of the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka and President, Sri Lanka Masters Athletics the only international technical official of the IAAF in Sri Lanka has been invited to officiate at the World Youth Championship to be held in Bressanone, Italy from July 8 to 12.

It will be recalled that Waidyatilaka brought great honour to Sri Lanka when he was appointed as an ITO for the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 followed by an appointed as the Technical Delegate a position generally reserved for the IAAF council members for the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.

Waidyatilaka who is highly regarded and sought after in the international athletics field was also invited for the World University Games to be held from July 7 to 12 in Belgrade.

As the dates clashed he had to opt for the IAAF World Youth Championship as an ITO's first loyalty is to the International Association of Athletics Federation - IAAF.

Later in July he will be travelling to Finland for the 18th World Masters Athletics Championship in Lahti.

This is the fourth consecutive World Masters Championship Waidyatilaka will be officiating as an ITO previous being Puerto Rico 2003, San Sebastian, Spain 2005 and Riccionne, Italy 2009. Incidentally Waidyatilaka is also a member of the Stadia (Technical) Committee of the World Masters Athletics.

He will also represent Sri Lanka at the congress of the WMA on Aug. 5 which will be held in conjunction with the World Championship. It is expected that Waidyatilaka will be re-elected to the WMA Stadia committee at Lahti, Finland.