Major milestone reached on road to 2019 IAAF World Championships decision

A Seminar for the candidate cities interested in hosting the 2019 edition of the IAAF World Championships took place in Monaco on 3-4 July.

Delegates from the three candidates cites – Barcelona, Doha and Eugene – were presented with full details of all aspects of the organisation of what is considered the 3rd largest sports event in the world. The World Championships gather around 2000 athletes from more than 200 countries over 9 consecutive days in the same city, and organisers need to be ready to accommodate 10,000 officials and volunteers, 3000 accredited broadcasters and media, and ensure that 47 athletics events are organised in such a way as to guarantee top performances which will then be broadcast worldwide to an audience of more than 6 billion people.

The Seminar gave delegates the opportunity to receive, process and discuss a wealth of detailed information about all aspects of the World Championships so they can turn a letter of intent into a final Bid File, as the next step of the procedure.

IAAF General Secretary Essar Gabriel said: "The IAAF is proud and excited to have three excellent cities – Barcelona, Doha and Eugene – teaming up with our Federations coming from 3 Continents joining us on this journey to select the host for the 2019 World Championships, the most important Athletics competition in the IAAF Calendar. This Seminar is part of a bidding process to ensure that each candidate is able to prepare the best possible proposal in accordance with our requirements. We now expect each candidate to return home to digest the information received over the last two days and get back to us with their fully detailed Bid File by the 25 September 2014."

Following this date, the next steps of the procedure will be a visit to each candidate by an IAAF Evaluation Commission in October. The final decision regarding the host city will be taken by the IAAF Council at its meeting in Monaco on 20 November 2014, following presentations from each Candidate City.

Quotes from each Candidate City:

Barcelona, Spain

Xavier Amador, Institutional Relations Director of the City Council of Barcelona.

Barcelona is the capital of sports, sports is capital for Barcelona

"Sport for us is a fundamental tool to teach values and to contribute to a healthier society and social equality. We reach this objective through club and entity activities that are the base of sports’ promotion. Athletics is not an exception in this, it has a strong representation and tradition in Barcelona, Catalunya and Spain. Major mass participation events like the marathon, half marathon, 10k etc. witness always higher participation figures. They are coordinated by the City Council with the direct involvement of the districts. Barcelona offers perfect athletics facilities and modern venues of any kind. The important support of the local and national Athletics Federation have and will contribute to the large tradition of the city in the organization of successful major sport events. The result is tangible and is part of the great backing received by the citizens, clubs and volunteers. The present ‘Barcelona brand’ is the result of a sustainable and experienced work that will hold on the great legacy of the City, a capital of sport in the centre of Europe and the World."

Eugene, USA

Vin Lananna, President, TrackTown USA

An ideal global and authentic platform for this event

"Together with USA Track and Field, we were delighted to be in Monaco with our friends from the IAAF and to continue to learn more about the requirements for bidding for the IAAF World Championships. This was an extremely valuable step in our journey towards evaluating the viability of a bid from the United States. We believe we are better positioned than ever to make a run for the IAAF’s crown jewel, and because of the rich tradition and history of TrackTown USA, historic Hayward Field would be an ideal global and authentic platform for this event."

Doha, Qatar

Mohammed Al Kuwari, General Secretary Qatar Athletics Federation

New opportunities and innovation

"The bid committee of Doha 2019 for the IAAF World Championships was delighted to attend the seminar organized by the IAAF, who extended unlimited support to all the bidders in the preparations of their applications.

"Qatar Athletics Federation together with Qatar Olympic Committee continue to be committed partners to the IAAF for the further development of the sport. The Doha 2019 bid comes in times that new opportunities and innovation are an obvious opportunity for Athletics to grow as an elite and truly global sport that it deserves to be.

"The valuable learnings from the two day seminar will be reflected in the Doha 2019 application extending an even stronger partnership to the IAAF."

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