IAAF Council, Moscow, Day 2 – Future IAAF WAS competition Hosts

In its final session in Moscow, IAAF Council agreed on the future hosts of three future IAAF World Athletics Series (WAS) Competitions:

2008 World Indoor Championships

The IAAF Council awarded Valencia the right to host the 2008 edition of the IAAF World Indoor Championships, exactly a year after the same city tried – and lost – the contest to host the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Athletics.

Lamine Diack, welcoming the decision, said: “This Council had been impressed by the city’s enthusiasm and willingness to come back with another attempt to host a world class athletics event. After seeing an impressive presentation, we have no doubts whatsoever that the city, with the support of the Spanish Athletics Federation, has the ability to put on a wonderful edition of the World Indoors.”

Leading the delegation, David Serra – Secretary for Sport for the Regional Government, said: “Although we were unsuccessful last year, the political authorities of the region of Valencia wanted to confirm to the IAAF that we are still willing and ready to continue to organise world class athletics events. With 4 million inhabitants – our city has undergone great economic and cultural change in the last decade.”

Speaking on behalf of the city authorities, Cristobal Grau – Sports Councillor for Municipality, said: “Valencia not only has a first class soccer team but has an international sporting vocation, and after organising the Americas Cup in 2007 we are keen to continue with major events. From the overall budget of US $11 million, a good proportion is dedicated to a promotional campaign to ensure good crowds for the competition and to promote athletics in this region of Spain.”

The venue for the World Indoors, the Luis Puig Palace, is situated in the North-West of the City of Valencia, next to the International Exhibition Fair. The Stadium is state-of-the-art facility and has already hosted an unforgettable edition of the European Indoor Championships, as well as other sports like cycling. It is considered one of the most outstanding indoor sporting venues in Europe. The stadium has a capacity of 6500 seats.

Valencia Delegates

David Serra – Secretary for Sport for Regional Government
Cristobal Grau – Sports Councillor for Municipality
Luis Cervera – Manager of Municipal Sport Foundation
Vicente Revert – President of Regional Federation
Hermenegildo Puchades – Chief of Olympic Training and top class sport
Rafael Blanquer – President of Club Valencia I Mar

2007 World Cross Country Championships

Kenya, the most successful nation in the history of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, was awarded the right to host the competition for the first time after a vibrant audio-visual presentation to Council.

IAAF President Lamine Diack, said: “We believe that your country deserves to organise the World Cross and are happy to give you the opportunity now following your very impressive and professional presentation. The IAAF looks forward to working closely with our Kenyan counterparts to organise a great edition of this event in 2007.”

A large delegation of 14, headed by the Hon. Ochillo Ayack MP, gave an indication of the strong desire and excitement of the entire Kenyan nation to win the right to organise this event. As well as notable politicians and Kenyan sport officials including the legendary Kip Keino, two other famous Kenyan athletes: Paul Tergat and Catherine Ndereba made the trip from east Africa to Moscow to present their case to Council.

Tergat, who is patron of the IAAF’s Humanitarian Project “Athletics for a Better World,” won the New York Marathon earlier this month. One of the all-time greats of distance running, Tergat won a record five consecutive IAAF World Cross Country titles from 1995 to 1999. On the track, Tergat won two World Championships silvers (1997 and 1999) and one bronze (1995), and two Olympic (1996 and 2000) silver medals at 10,000m, on each occasion being beaten by Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie. Tergat also won two consecutive editions of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 1999 and 2000. In September 2003, he ran a superb 2:04:55 to break the World record for the Marathon in Berlin.

Tergat says; “I won the world title five times, as did my colleague John Ngugi, and if we look at the statistics over the years, I doubt Kenya’s record in this competition can ever be matched. Although I have been fortunate to win many races in my career, I am delighted that we have won the right to host the World Cross for the first time. Like 33 million of my countrymen, I can now celebrate that the World Cross has come back home.”

Ndereba says: “Holding this event in our country will encourage more of our young people to take part in this sport, which has given me such pleasure over the years and has allowed me to build a long and successful professional career.”

Catherine Ndereba has been one of the best road runners in the world since 1996, winning almost all the major road races in the world and setting numerous records. In 2001 she set a World marathon best of 2:18:47, in winning the Chicago Marathon. The 2003 World Marathon champion, her most recent achievement was to win the silver medal when defending that title at the last edition of the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, this summer.

The Mayor of Mombasa, Taib Ali Taib, said that he was eagerly awaiting Council’s decision as the nation is united in support. For so many years, our country has been in love with cross country and has celebrated the achievements of so many Kenyan champions in this discipline. Kenya is no stranger to hosting international sports events in motor-sport, golf and rugby, and we are ready to invest all the necessary resources and effort to organise an outstanding edition of the event.”

The second largest city in Kenya, with just over 1 million inhabitants, Mombasa is a historic port city, established in the 12th century, set in marvellous natural surroundings by the Indian Ocean. The proposed course uses the grounds of the Mombasa golf course, which has hosted national events in the past, and is near a number of top quality hotels. It is expected that the races will start as early as possible in the morning, to ensure the best possible climatic conditions for competitors.

Mombasa Delegation

Hon Ochiko GM Ayacko – Minister Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services
Wellington Godo - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services
Taib Ali Taib - His Worship the Mayor of Mombasa
Joe Nakaissery - Member of the Kenya National Assembly
Jack Tuwei - Vice Chairman Athletics Kenya and National Defence College Commandant
Gordon Oluoch - Commissioner for Sport in Kenya
Joshua Okuthe - Chairman of the Kenya National Sports Council
Kipchoge Keino - Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya
Sam Mwai CEO - Stadia Management Board
John Velzian - Director IAAF Regional Development Centre, Nairobi
David Okeyo - Secretary General of Athletics Kenya
Paul Tergat - Bid Ambassador
Catherine Ndereba - Bid Ambassador
Isaac Kalua - Chairman of Special Programmes Kenya National Sports Council

2007 World Road Running Championships

The 2007 edition of the IAAF World Road Running Championships will be held in Udine Italy, with the race distance being Half Marathon. President Lamine Diack said: “The Council unanimously agreed to award the competition to Udine. We have full confidence in their ability to organise a memorable edition of the World Road Running Championships. Udine has a long tradition of putting on top road races, and FIDAL has been a loyal and active partner of the IAAF for many years.”

Francesco Arese, President of the Italian Athletics Federation FIDAL and a former European 1500m champion, introduced the host candidate of Udine, a historic city located about 100km east of Venice, and renowned in Italy as a centre of sport. “FIDAL and the local organising team have a shared goal to promote a world class athletics competition. We have a lot of experience over the past 20 years at hosting major IAAF events and, above all, we have a lot of enthusiasm which is the most important organisational quality. Udine has hosted its own world class half marathon competition at the end of September for many years now, and we are totally confident in the facilities and capability of the city. There will be a new and spectacular route, with 3 loops, which will run right through the historic city centre, and offering magnificent views for spectators and television. The course has been designed to be flat and wide as possible, and we expect excellent results from the athletes.”

UDINE Delegation
 
Francesco Arese - FIDAL President
Alberto Morini - FIDAL Vice-President
Anna Riccardi - Head of International Department
 
Representing City of Udine
 
Vincente Martines - Deputy Mayor of Udine
Paolo Bordon - President of City of Udine Half Marathon

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