Jesse Williams, 2011 WC high jump, and Fabiana Murer, 2011 WC pole vault, have joined Haile Gebrselassie to support the London 2017 bid….
WORLD CHAMPIONS JESSE WILLIAMS AND FABIANA MURER BACK LONDON 2017 BID
Both athletes also unveiled as members of London 2017 Athlete Commission
LONDON, October 13 2011:
Newly crowned world champions Jesse Williams, from the USA, and Fabiana
Murer, from Brazil, have today been unveiled as official bid
ambassadors and members of the Athlete Commission for London’s bid to
host the 2017 IAAF World Championships.
Both
Williams and Murer became world champions for the first time at the
recent IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu. Williams leapt 2.35m
to secure gold in the men’s high jump while Murer cleared 4.85m for
victory in the women’s pole vault.
As
members of the London 2017 Athlete Commission, Williams and Murer will
draw on their experience as world-class athletes to provide the bid team
with personal insight into optimising all aspects of the athlete
experience at a World Championships.
They
join two-time Olympic gold medallist and four-time World Champion Haile
Gebrselassie on the Athlete Commission, with British Olympic gold
medallists Denise Lewis and Jason Gardener as Chairman and Vice-Chairman
respectively.
Jesse Williams, World Champion, high jump, photo by PhotoRun.net
World Champion Jesse Williams said: “I
am already excited about competing in London’s Olympic Stadium next
year and felt a great buzz in the city when I was jumping there this
summer. British fans are always great to compete in front of – they
appreciate world-class athletes, no matter where they come from. As a
newly crowned gold medallist I know how special the IAAF World
Championships are and I would love for them to be hosted in a city as
passionate about athletics as London.”
Fabiana Murer, World Champion, Polve Vault, photo by PhotoRun.net
World Champion Fabiana Murer said: “Winning
a gold medal at this year’s IAAF World Championships was the highlight
of my career so far and I would really like to see the 2017
championships hosted in a city that values athletics like London does.
Bringing the world championships back to Europe and to a global city
like London in 2017 would be a great way to follow a spectacular Olympic
Games in my home country in 2016. I wish London’s bid the best of
luck.”
Ed Warner, UKA Athletics, photo by London 2017
Ed Warner, UKA Chairman said: “Adding
the support of two world champion athletes of the calibre of Jesse
Williams and Fabiana Murer to the London 2017 bid is a huge boost for
us, and our Athlete Commission will benefit greatly from their
expertise. We believe in providing the optimum athlete experience in
2017 and their invaluable advice under Denise Lewis’ leadership on the
Athlete Commission will continue to ensure that London’s bid delivers on
that promise.”
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.
-Ends-
