In this edition of 10 Questions we sit down with the OCR Coast Rica President Rodolfo Vilalobos and learn about the OCR scene in Costa Rica and how they became the host of the world championships.
1. Please start by telling us your name and your title position with OCR
Industrial Engineer Rodolfo Villalobos
Presidente of OCR Costa Rica
Presidente of LOC WOCR 2024
President of Costa Rica chamber of Sports Event organizers
2. You have a long and impressive history in sports in Costa Rica, Can you please give a little history of your involvement with other sports in Costa Rica and other positions you have held?
My wife an I are the owners of a company that organize all kind of sport events, like Running, Triathlon, Open Sea, Surf, OCR, MTB Road Cycling, Volleyball, anything related with sports.
We have being involve organizing events for big brands like NIKE, Under Armour, New balance, also we have work 5 years with ITU on the central American games, also we have support ISA world Paddle in San Salvador 2019. 15 years of experience has take us to work in a lot of countries like Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Venezuela, Mexico, just to mention some. On 2019 we work in 120 events year long. Today we are more focus on bigger events.
3. How did you get involved in obstacle racing from everything you did?
I saw some videos around 2016 of urbanatlon and spartan race, so we search for an sponsor sold then the idea and the university love it an we develop a race call UH urban Run for 3 years, we got 500 persons register for this event, from there on we begun searching for new events and venues to develop more races here in Costa Rica. That how we develop our on series that is call Indian Race.
4. This August, FISO World Obstacle/UIPM are bringing the OCR World Championships to Costa Rica. How did that happen? Many people have asked, how did a country so small get the event?
On 2022 we place a Bid as country when Ian and Ronny arrive we show them what we did and the venues that we think will work for the event. Costa Rica is a country very small is true but has probably more spaces and venue than some develop countries. In the final meeting the government got Involve and gave us the support. We have the support from Costa Rica vice president, minister of health and the minister of sports. Both of them got in the meeting with Fiso team and told them about how the government will support the event and how important is for a small country that lives from tourism this kind of events. So I can assure you that the country is ready to received the more the 3000 athletes that we spec. The country is always open to new events, and will received all tourist with the hands and heart open, and with a Pura Vida!!!
5. What are you looking forward to the most about bringing the world to Costa Rica? What should people expect from your country?
I want to show the world why we are great country to visit, that opens its heart to everyone, and everyone should a great welcome from us and a PURA VIDA.
6. I am sure you have heard of some issues that occurred at the 2023 OCR World Championships. What are you and OCR Costa Rica doing to prevent some of the same issues from occurring?
Well I was in Belgium with part of my team, and I now what happens there. We are working together with FISO every week. We have meeting every wends day to see how the event is moving and to see the tasks that should be done for that week. We all work together on a budget. We are two companies that develop events year long so we have 12 persons on payroll dedicated to work on this project. Athletes should now that an event like this a national federation should hire a company to develop this events and that should help them a lot. I am not telling that some federation don’t have the ability is that is different when you have a team that produce events year long.
7. What is the weather like in late August in Costa Rica? Is there anything special the athletes should do in their training to prepare for the event in Costa Rica?
In Costa Rica we have only 2 seasons, summer 3 months and raining 9 months season, about the august we are in the beginning of the raining season so it could be a chance to have some rain around 5:30 pm. On Doka is a coffee plantation on which we have 27 km of trails. San Jose is around 1000 mt over the sea level and doka (https://dokaestate.com/costarica-coffee-tour/) is 1500 mt over sea level. Remember doka is only one day the rest of the days are in la sabana and national stadium (https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parque_Metropolitano_La_Sabana).
8. I noticed that one of the hosts listed for the OCR World Championships include the Costa Rica Ministry of Sports. What role has the government of Costa Rica played in Costa Rica getting thr event, the preparation, planning and the implementation of the event?
The goverment is supporting this event 100% on a lots needs that usually appears
9. What is your hope on August 26th, after the event is over, what do you hope that people will remember the most?
I hope first make an impact on Costa Rica market. Then I want that everyone that attends take a small part of my country and come back see more
10. I leave this open to you to say anything you wish to or want to. What did I not ask and what do you wish to promote?
LOC want to give a one on a live time experience. We are working with love and commitment to make this the best competition of OCR. A unique experience and feel and live el PURA VIDA from Costa Rica
10. I leave this open to you to say anything you wish to or want to. What did I not ask and what do you wish to promote?
LOC want to give a one on a live time experience. We are working with love and commitment to make this the best competition of OCR. A unique experience and feel and live el PURA VIDA from Costa Rica
