On New Year's eve (31 December) a hundred and ninety-seven athletes from twenty-five countries took part in the forty-eighth annual "round-the-houses" race through the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Colombian distance runner Victor Mora caused a sensational upset over a field which included dual Munich Olympics gold medal winner Lasses Viren of Finland. The veteran Colombian, competing for the third time in the New Year's eve midnight race, sprinted away towards the and of the race to beat Mario Perez of Mexico by 43 seconds.

Finland's Pekka Paivarinta was third with England's David Black in fourth place and another Finn, Tapio Kantanen fifth in the gruelling 8,500 metres race.

Eighty-thousand people watched the race, which started in an atmosphere of confusion after someone exploded a firework which set the runners off along the course. Officials allowed the race to continue rather than call back the big field.

SYNOPSIS: A hundred and ninety-seven athletes form twenty-five countries gathered in Sao Paulo, Brazil on New Year's eve for the annual running of the "round-the-houses" race through the streets of the city. Victor More was one of the contenders among a field that included Olympic champions and national title holders, and a hundred and fifty-five Brazilian hopefuls.

Each of the athletes had to formally register for the event before preparing to run in the event, which has been run in Sao Paulo for the past forty-eight years. The race covers a gruelling eight-and-a-half kilometres, which ends with a difficult uphill climb to the finish line.

Sao Paulo's Governor Laudo Natel was among the large crowd of eighty-thousand that gathered to watch the competition... The race started in some confusion after someone exploded a firework which sent the runners racing along the course. Because of the large field, officials allowed the race to continue.

The veteran Colombian runner Victor More -- who placed second in the last year's race -- was first across the finish line... The Mexican Mario Parez finished fourty-three seconds later.

Finland's Pekka Paivarinta crossed the line in third place... The winning time of the veteran Colombian was a new record for the event. Victor More was presented a laurel wreath as symbol of his victory. He had taken part in two previous races before achieving victory in this latest New Year's event.