Vlasic and Pitkamaki enjoy the perks of being the best in the World 12. December 07

For European Athletic Athletes of the Year, Blanka Vlasic and Tero Pitkamaki, life has become a glittering array of film premieres and Presidential parties!
It does make sense that an athlete as tall as Croatia's World Champion High Jumper, would eventually out-grow a mere television screen, but such is the growth of interest in the vivacious Vlasic, that last week saw the premiere of her very own film, "Blanka - World Champion". This first showing was enjoyed by over 300 guests including the Croatian Minister for Sport, Youth and Education, in the Broadway Cinema Center in Blanka's home town of Split (CRO).

The film follows Vlasic's progress from qualification to the finals in Osaka and her triumphant return to Croatia as a new World Champion, with commentary from her family and friends, and interviews on the street and in coffee shops with the people of Croatia who were avidly following her progress during the World Championships.

This exclusive insight into the life of one of the biggest rising stars in World athletics could soon be a frequent feature on Christmas lists across Europe.

The Finnish Javelin sensation that completes the European Athletic Athlete of the Year duo, is also enjoying the rewards of a spectacular season. Last week Tero Pitkamaki had the honour of being invited to the Finnish President's Independence Day Reception, a nationally televised event where Pitkamaki joined the likes of reigning Formula One World Drivers' Champion, Kimi Räikkönen - Pitkamaki's main competitor to win the prestigious 'Finnish Athlete of the Year Award'.

The 18th of December will see the World Champion Javelin thrower go head-to-head with the Scuderia Ferrari driver at the live broadcast of the inauguration ceremony of this award, voted for by sports journalists across Finland.

However athlete representatives are quick to point out that it is not all champagne and canapés for our Athletes of the Year, as their training for the Beijing Olympics has already started, Tero Pitkamaki is already six weeks into his Olympic preparation programme.

european-athletics.org