by Larry Eder
The man who ushered in the sub four minute mile, Sir Roger Bannister, has announced his support of the London 2017 bid to host the World Championships in 2017….
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE BEHIND LONDON 2017
Sir Roger Bannister amongst athletics stars backing bid to host World Championships
LONDON, November 9 2011: Athletics stars past, present and future are getting behind London’s bid to host the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships.
Running
legend and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sir Roger Bannister, 82,
2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist shot putter Dylan Armstrong, 30
and World Junior Championships 100m gold medallist Jodie Williams, aged
just 18, have joined forces to demonstrate athletes of all ages are
behind London’s bid.
On Friday (November 11) in Monaco the IAAF will decide the host city of the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships.
Jodie
Williams, who will speak on behalf of the London bid in Monaco, said:
“It is such an honour to be part of the London 2017 delegation. As a
young athlete who will be just 23 in 2017 I was right behind the bid
from the start – who wouldn’t want to compete for a world title in their
home city? But to be part of the team actually speaking to the IAAF
Council is fantastic.
“London
is undoubtedly the athlete’s choice, I get a little awestruck when I
see just how many great names have backed our bid, from Edwin Moses to
Carmelita Jeter and of course our own World Champions Mo Farah and Dai
Greene. They’re speaking with the voice of experience, they know what it
takes to succeed at the highest level and they know London will give us
the best opportunity to break records.
“Of
course it will be a little nerve-wracking standing in front of the
council, but I believe in this bid and that’s what I hope I can show to
them.”
Canadian
Dylan Armstrong said: “‘London 2017 has the support of athletes from
around the world and they’ll put on a champs that will be the best for
athletes.
‘I
love the fact that they’re already getting our thoughts on how to make
their bid better and the prospect of taking our sport out to public. The
idea of shot put training right next door to Tower Bridge is awesome
and the athletes would relish the opportunity to train in such an
historic setting up close and personal to the public.”
Sir
Roger Bannister commented: “Seeing the best athletes in the world in
this country at next year’s Olympic Games will be a real thrill for
people of the UK. There is already a great amount of enthusiasm ahead of
London 2012 and hosting the 2017 World Athletics Championships in
London would be a brilliant way to inspire the next generation of young
athletes. Athletics is a great sport both to watch and compete in and it
would be good for its future if we were able to build on the excitement
generated by the Olympics to keep those youngsters in athletics.
Hopefully it will lead to another successful 100 years for the IAAF.”
The
trio join an impressive list of international athlete names supporting
London’s bid including Olympic legends Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie and
American Edwin Moses, American high jump World Champion Jesse Williams
and Brazilian World Champion Fabiana Murer.
Current
and former British athletes have also shown their support for the
London 2017 with Jessica Ennis, Dai Greene, Phillips Idowu, Denise
Lewis, Jonathan Edwards and Sally Gunnell all official bid ambassadors.
