London, Apr 05: Best female heptathlete in the world, Carolina Kluft says she will trust the IOC to secure the safety of athletes in Athens. The world's best heptathlete, Carolina Kluft said on Tuesday (March 30) she would place her trust in the International Olympic Committee to ensure the safety of athletes at the Summer Olympic Games in Athens in August. Kluft was speaking in London at a news conference to launch sponsor, Reebok's "Outperform" marketing campaign in Europe. Celebrating the return of the Olympics to their spiritual home in Athens, Reebok has commissioned a series of sculptures of their leading athletes in the style of the Parthenon Marbles. Before enduring the task of having her body cast in plaster and latex, the 21-year old Kluft told journalists she refused to feel pressurized to perform simply because it was an Olympic year.
"I really need to feel myself - to go out and have fun" she said adding that she neer thought of her sport in terms of medals or world records because she needed to enjoy performing rather than making results a goal.



"I will do this until I don't like it anymore - until it doesn't give me anything more" she told journalists.



She said she planned to compete in both the heptathlon and the long jump at The Games in Athens and was confident that she would cope well with the notorious Greek heat after a training period in nearby Cyprus.



Questioned about the possibility of terrorist attacks on Olympic athletes Kluft said she trusted the Olympic Committee to ensure the safety of athletes.



"I think it's going to be fine" she said.



Named "Swedish Athlete of the Year" in 2002, Carolina Kluft is the 3rd female heptathelet in history to score over 7000 points in competion - her personal best is 7001. She won the gold medal at the 2003 World Track and Field Championships and Gold at the World Junior Championships in 2002.


Bureau Report