Dear participants and guests of the 23rd IAAF World Race Walking Cup,

I am glad to greet you on the ancient Chuvash land! Our country is rich in its sport traditions. Purposefulness, strength of mind, ability to overcome difficulties and confidence are the main characteristics of the multinational people of Chuvashia. And these features became a basis of brilliant victories of representatives of our republic in very prestigious competitions. We are truly proud of our famous fellow countrymen whose names are the glory of our national sport.
Chuvashia has a great and successful experience in organization of all-Russia and world competitions. It is no coincidence that in 2003 the 5th European Race Walking Cup was held in Cheboksary and our city received athletes from 27 countries. According to authoritative international experts’ estimates, this competition was recognized as the best and the most entertaining sport event of the year. The same year Chuvashia gained the right to become a venue for the 23rd World Race Walking Cup, 2008. I am sure that the 23rd IAAF World Race Walking Cup will be held on the highest level and become the brightest event in the chronicle of world sport, and our dear guests will remember Cheboksary as the world capital of race walking.
I wish good health, inexhaustible energy, new victories, pleasant and useful meetings on the Chuvash land to everybody!

Nikolai Fedorov,
President of the Chuvash Republic

Ladies and gentlemen! Dear friends!

 On behalf of the Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sport and all Russian sportsmen I am glad to greet all participants, organizers and guests of the 23rd IAAF World Race Walking Cup!
  The Chuvash Republic is one of the recognized centres in training national race walking masters, who had won at the most prestigious competitions, including Cups, world championships and Olympic Games. There is no doubt that the walkers will be met with hospitality in Cheboksary, as usual, and that the World Race Walking Cup will become a bright and unforgettable sport festival.
  The season of 2008 is the Olympic season. And this competition will be a qualifying round among athletes for the 29th Olympic Games held in Beijing. Dear sportsmen, I wish you to achieve the highest results in the fair struggle and to show your best qualities - courage, generosity and persistence.
  I wish you good luck, successful start and winning finish!

Vyacheslav Fetisov,
Head of the Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sport of the Russian Federation,
Two time Olympic Champion

Dear Friends,

  On behalf of the All-Russia Athletics Federation I am happy to greet the best athletes of national teams, their coaches, officials, IAAF leaders, judges, journalists, and technical personnel – in short, everybody who participates in holding of the main pre-Olympic event of the world race walking.
  The World Race Walking Cup is held in our country for the first time. But we have enough experience in conducting great international competitions in race walking. The majority of those specialists who takes part in the World Cup 2008 took part in organization of the 5th European Race Walking Cup. And we hope that their high professionalism together with the most modern technological equipment will help to hold the World Cup on the highest level.
  Dear athletes, I sincerely wish you to show the best results on this wonderful track.
I express gratitude to the Government of the republic and personally to the President of the Chuvash Republic Nikolai Fedorov. I am convinced that the World Cup in Cheboksary will be written in the race walking chronicle with bright victories and new sport achievements!

Valentine Balakhnichev,
President of the All-Russia Athletics Federation

  Dear members of the World Athletics Family,

  Cheboksary is glad to meet its guests!
Cheboksary is the capital, the symbol and the visiting card of multinational Chuvashia. The city is located in the centre of the European part of Russia on the bank of the Volga River. It is unique in its own way with its history and original modernity created by almost half a million of talented, good-natured, and hard-working inhabitants.
  Our city is very diverse and its every corner is dear for us. It is pleasant to take a walk on the Cheboksary Bay – the most beautiful place in the city. Tourists call Cheboksary as the crystal crown of the Volga region for its beauty.
  We pay much attention to the development of public health, education, culture, and art. We are proud of the fact that it is our city that became a venue of the world scale sport event – the 23rd World Race Walking Cup in 2008. It is open to the entire world. We are waiting for the guests, confidently promising not only well-known hospitality of the Chuvash land, but also mutually advantageous business cooperation. I wish good luck and health to everybody!
  Welcome to Cheboksary!

Nikolai Emelyanov,
Mayor of Cheboksary, Member of LOC