Vlasic, Thorkildsen, Pitkamaeki sign for Golden League series

Vlasic, Thorkildsen, Pitkamaeki sign for Golden League seriesVlasic, Thorkildsen, Pitkamaeki sign for Golden League seriesMonte Carlo  - Croatian high jump star Blanka Vlasic is the latest star to commit herself to the elite Golden League athletics series with its 1-million dollar jackpot, the ruling body IAAF said on Friday.

The IAAF said that the world champion Vlasic is joined by javelin throwers Andreas Thorkidsen of Norway, a double Olympic champion, and Tero Pitkamaeki of Finland, the reigning world champion, to compete in all six meets of the series.

The Golden League starts on June 14 in Berlin and also features meets in Paris, Oslo, Rome, Zurich and Brussels.

Athletes won win their event at all six stages are eligible for the jackpot. If no one gets six wins, 500,000 dollars go to five-time winners.

Other athletes including Ethiopian distance running star Kenenisa Bekele had earlier been won to compete at the full Golden League series.(dpa)