byLarry Eder
Haile Gebrselassie, former WR in the marathon, a man who has raced in London and environs many times, has joined the campgaign to bring the World Champs to London in 2017.
HAILE GEBRSELASSIE BACKS LONDON 2017 BID
Gebrselassie Unveiled as Member of London 2017 Athlete Commission
LONDON, October 10 2011: Haile
Gebrselassie, the two time Olympic gold medallist and four times World
Champion, has today been unveiled as an official bid ambassador and
member of the Athlete Commission for London’s bid to host the 2017 IAAF
World Athletics Championships.
The
Ethiopian long distance runner will draw on his years of competing at
the top international level to provide valuable insight from his
experiences as an athlete in guiding London’s bid to host the 2017 IAAF
World Athletics Championships.
Haile Gebrselassie said: “I
have competed and trained in London for many years and always had great
support from the public and the athletics family in the UK. I am
planning to compete in London in 2012 and by being part of the extended
bid team hope to enable future Ethiopian athletes to have the same great
experiences in the Olympic stadium in front of a London crowd in 2017.”
Ed Warner UKA Chairman said: “Haile
is one of the greatest ever athletes and has always spoken of how much
he enjoys competing in London. To have him backing London 2017 is a huge
boost for us, but what is more essential is the insight he can provide
as part of the Athletes Commission. We have always said our London 2017
bid would be athlete centred and with the input of incredible athletes
like Haile and under Denise Lewis’ leadership the Commission can ensure
we deliver that commitment.”
The
London 2017 bid, which has been put together by UK Athletics, DCMS, the
Mayor of London, London & Partners and UK Sport, will be looking to
secure the votes of the 27 IAAF Council Members before the decision on
who will host the Championships is made on November 11th.
