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American Morning
Prime Minister of Slovakia Participating in Sunday's Marathon in New York
Aired November 02, 2001 - 09:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Californians aren't the only ones worried about bridges being targeted by terrorists.
As CNN's maria Hinojosa reports, runners participating in Sunday's New York City marathon are also concerned.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the bridges that have many New Yorkers worried, people like Raul Mojica.
RAUL MOJICA, MARATHON RUNNER: I am a little concerned, like, crossing over the bridge, like crossing the Verrazano Bridge, like, they somebody might do something.
HINOJOSA: Because Raul is one of 30,000 runners gearing up for Sunday's New York City marathon. A lot of things will be the same this year, but some things will be different.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get there early. Don't bring any friends or family. Only runners will be allowed to go. Anything you bring with you will have to be in a clear plastic bag, and be expected to be searched as you board the buses.
HINOJOSA: It's already started. Days ahead of the 26-mile race, runners were having their ID's checked and rechecked. And on Sunday, runners will have computer chips in their shoes and on their number tags. If they don't match, runners won't able to run.
And when they run:
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have had people along the way who are do- gooders, and positively, that in some areas they are handing out water, bananas and oranges, and in the past, it has not been a concern. It is a good thing to do.
HINOJOSA: But this year, thirsty runners are being told not to accept anything from spectators. Along the route, more changes. Bridges that allowed traffic during the marathon will be for runners only. And expect more police, many undercover.
Did the mayor ever think of canceling the marathon? MYR. RUDY GIULIANI (R), NEW YORK CITY: No, no, no. I couldn't possibly cancel it. I've finished first in this event seven out of the last eight years.
HINOJOSA: And for the runners? Mixed emotions.
ANNA BURKE, MARATHON RUNNER: I am very nervous, yes, but I think that you can't change what you do day to day. This is something that I have always wanted to do, and so I am just going to go out there and run and hope for the best, and run the best race that I can.
HINOJOSA: Crossing the finish line in a year when running your personal best in New York City's marathon means that much more.
Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: The big race will include many international runners. There's nothing new in that. But one in particular will certainly should stand out. The prime minister of Slovakia, Mikulas Dzurinda, will run the 26-mile marathon, a little bit more than that, 26.2, in a show of solidarity for New Yorkers, and he will do this without his own security.
Prime Minister Dzunda is in the studio with me this morning.
Good morning.
MIKULAS DZURINDA, PRIME MINISTER OF SLOVOKIA: Good morning.
ZAHN: Delighted to have you here this morning.
DZURINDA: I'm delighted.
ZAHN: At a time when other government officials are going to run under pseudonyms, you are very proudly running under your title, and with no security. What kind of message are you trying to send?
DZURINDA: I want to participate in Sunday's marathon in order to express the solidarity of people in Slovakia with the American people, especially with people of New York. Usually I do one marathon in October, in Slovakia, because -- and there is the oldest European marathon in Slovakia. This year, I resigned on my (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but after the 11th of September, I completely changed the view and I decide to visit New York and to run.
I understood that every Democrat should do something to participate in this fight of the Democratic world against terrorism.
ZAHN: So do you feel a sense of defiance? will you feel that Sunday when you hit the road?
DZURINDA: Oh, yes.
ZAHN: That you are standing up to the terrorist in some way, that you are going to come to a city that was so badly hurt by terrorism.
DZURINDA: Yes, I know. But on the other hand, I think that -- and I'm sure that New York is safe now, and I feel comfortable myself. For one side, we shouldn't underestimate terrorism, but on the other hand, I think that we should show that we are not afraid of terrorism, that we are strong. We should be able to show courage, and the high spirit which should lead to the rebuilding of this beautiful town.
ZAHN: Now you are an experienced marathon runner. You've run 16 in your own country. You have run in New York City, never in the marathon. We have a picture of you in one of your previous races. We should make it clear that you are an elite runner. You have finished two marathons under the three-hour mark, which is remarkable. Give us a sense of what you might feel like Sunday when you feel the New York community embracing you. The name of the marathon is "United We Run." They are going to try to raise a million dollars for the victims of the World Trade Center. So it's a much different race this year.
DZURINDA: Yes. You're right. I fully understand that this marathon this year in New York will be different than usual. I am happy that I will be one of the several thousand runners that will run for freedom, for solidarity, for a united America. I fully understood that the attack on the 11th of September was not only the attack against America, it was the attack against on values in which we believe. So we are all Americans now. And I am very, very happy I will have a chance to run on Sunday's marathon here in New York.
ZAHN: Well, we're grateful that you are here. Thank you so much for your time. Good luck. So what are you going for, 2:54 this year. This man can run.
DZURINDA: There's no time for training, and I didn't come to New York to win. I came to show a big solidarity. Because, you know, I was visited by President Bush in June of this year. I was the European politician visited (ph) by President Bush before his arriving to Europe, and ending the debate with President Bush, I told President Bush, that, you know, Slovakia is a small country in the center of Europe, but it wants to be a strong ally in the United States. And President Bush told me, you know, it is not important whether the state is big or small; the most important thing to is to have a big heart, and I think that this is the best opportunity to show that people in Slovakia have a big heart.
ZAHN: Well, that is wonderful to hear. We will be rooting for you. Nice weather. It will be nice, crisp and cool.
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