by Larry Eder
If they want to build on the 2012 London legacy, then London 2017 makes huge sense. With World Champs in Osaka in 2007 and Daegu in 2011, an event in Europe would make sense for 2017 ( Beijing has 2015, Moscow has 2013).
The judicious decision would be to offer London 2017 and Doha 2019, giving the sport time to build to each event. However, this time, the IAAF has decided that only 2017 is on the block. We will be looking to the decision in the next 48 hours.
UKA MEDIA RELEASE
10/11/2011
LONDON CONFIRMED AS ATHLETES’ CHOICE FOR 2017 IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The
London 2017 bid for the World Athletics Championships has received a
major boost with support from more than 100 athletes around the world
flooding in.
The
athletes, from every IAAF region and comprising World and Olympic
medalists, have signed letters of support demonstrating their desire to
see the 2017 World Championships staged in London.
The
full lists of those who have offered their support reads like a who’s
who of world athletics. Some of the world’s top current athletes such as
Tirunesh Dibaba, Steve Hooker, Tyson Gay and Fabiana Murer have joined a
stellar cast of supporters for London 2017.
Former
legends such as Edwin Moses, world record holders like Jonathan Edwards
and previous world champions including Steve Cram and Sally Gunnell
have all stepped in to support London 2017.
They
are joined by current day legends such as Haile Gebrselassie and
Kenenisa Bekele, and reigning world champions from the UK – Mo Farah and
Dai Greene- and overseas in the shape of Carmelita Jeter and Tatyana
Chernova.
The
three shortlisted women for IAAF Athlete of the Year, Valerie Adams,
Vivian Cheruiyot and Sally Pearson have also spoken out in favour of
London.
Some
of Britain’s brightest young talent has also leapt at the potential
opportunity of competing in London’s Olympic Stadium in 2017. 19 year
old British record holders and world junior medalists, Holly Bleasdale,
Sophie Hitchon and Lawrence Okoye are all 2017 ambassadors.
The London bid has continued to deliver on the pledge to make the 2017 championships an athlete-centred event.
The
Athlete Commission, chaired by Denise Lewis, was created to ensure no
stone would go unturned in the pursuit of making the event the perfect
stage for athletes to go and compete at their very best. A number of the
athletes have also volunteered their time to advise and assist the
commission.
Bid
President Seb Coe said: “I am thrilled that the London 2017 bid has
received such wide ranging and high profile support from the world’s
athletes.
They
are clearly so excited and enthused by the idea of competing in a
championships where their needs have been addressed and where they will
compete in front of a full passionate crowd. The input from athletes the
world over is already starting to help us develop plans for 2017 should
we be successful this week, and it is superb to see them declare their
support in this way.
Ed
Warner, Chair for the London 2017 bid said: “We are so grateful for the
letters of support from the athletes the world over, we have a hundred
athletes representing a hundred years of athletics.
“It
would be superb if we could deliver a 2017 World Championships based on
their feedback to the Athlete Commission. Going into the final day of
campaigning it is great to hear the voice of the athletes. I very much
hope we will get an opportunity to repay them with a superb World
Championship experience.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Liz Birchall. Communications Manager
Claire Furlong – Head of Marketing and Communications
M: +44 (0) 7701 099764
NOTES TO EDITOR
The
bid is being led by Lord Sebastian Coe and UK Athletics as the British
federation. It is being delivered in close partnership with the British
Government, Mayor of London, UK Sport and London & Partners.
For
the first time ever, this incredibly powerful coalition have come
together, united by a single ambition; to host the greatest ever IAAF
World Championships in Athletics in London in 2017.
For more detail on the bid, the team behind the bid and the activities undertaken by London 2017 please visit www.london2017athletics.com
