London to host World Athletics Championships
London is chosen to stage the 2017 World Athletics Championships after beating off competition from Doha.
The council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) voted in favour of London following final presentations from both cities in Monaco.
IAAF vice-president and London 2012 chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe, led London’s presentation. The decision fulfils his promise that the Olympic Stadium will have an enduring athletics legacy.
The presentation included contributions from London Mayor Boris Johnson, former Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis and world junior champion Jodie Williams.
First for London
It will be the first time London, which will stage the Olympics in 2012, hosts the athletics championships.
A bid for the 2001 championships had to be abandoned after plans for an athletics track to be included in the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium were scrapped.
London was then awarded the 2005 Championships after Tony Blair promised that a new stadium at Picketts Lock in north London would be built to host them. But when the government went back on that promise they were taken away and given to Helsinki instead.
Feeling the heat
The Qatari capital, Doha, had promised a 40,000-seat stadium and a “solar-powered temperature control system” allowing organisers to “decide the temperature” on the field, track and stands.
The maintenance of the track and field legacy was absolutely crucial. Lord Coe, London 2012 chairman
Lord Coe said it was “a great, great result” for London and testament to the “clarity of the message” UK Athletics had worked on.
“The maintenance of the track and field legacy was absolutely crucial. It was very important for us not to get spooked by inducements (from Doha) and just to make sure that people understood in London we have the stadium stuffed to the gunnels with people who look like they want to be there and know why they want to be there.”
‘Long and active life’
Mr Johnson said hosting the championships would help ensure the Olympic Stadium would have a “long and active life”. He added: “With the 2017 championships now in the diary, next summer’s London Games is just the start of a long and active life for our magnificent stadium.
“In addition to athletics it will host a variety of sports competitions including football as well as a range of other events from major concerts to community activities. I am absolutely thrilled for London.”
‘Most successful ever’
Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to make the championships “the most successful ever”.
He said: “This is great news both for London and the whole country. There is no better way to follow the Olympics, and to build on its legacy, than by welcoming the world’s greatest athletes back to London for the 2017 World Championships.