POSTED: November 4th 2011

NewsUpdate

Lobbying winding up for 2017 IAAF World Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games bids

NIKKI WICKS / Sports Features Communications

LONDON: The final push from the four cities vying to secure support ahead of next week’s votes to decide who will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2017 World Athletics Championships has begun.

Seven days from now, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will select the host city for the 2017 Championships in a vote of its 27-member council in Monaco where London is competing against Doha, Qatar, to host track and field’s showcase event.

On the same day, delegates from the Commonwealth Games Federation will gather in the Caribbean in St Kitts & Nevis to decide whether Sri Lanka’s Hambantota or Australia’s 
Gold Coast will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

London 2012 chairman Seb Coe said yesterday that he would be campaigning right up until the votes in the bid to bring the World Athletics Championships to London.

Coe, who is leading London’s bid, told Sky News: "I take absolutely nothing for granted, we will need to go on making (our) case right up until the last moment."

Coe was re-elected in August as IAAF vice president and will be among the voters in Monaco next week.

Meanwhile, Doha’s bid committee said that the city would continue to drive its credentials as a destination for world Athletics.

Abdulla Al-Zaini, president of the QAAF and executive director of Doha 2017 bid committee said: “We would like to thank all Athletes, IAAF Member Federations, supporters and fans for showing their support.”

Adding: “This is just the beginning, with the continued support we plan on expanding the reach of Athletics leading up to a 2017 World Championships in Doha and beyond. We are the right partner for a fantastic World Championship and a stronger future for Athletics."

Commonwealth Games for 2018

Sri Lanka’s Hambantota 2018 bid campaign had been given a boost ahead of next week’s vote in St Kitts & Nevis. Muttiah Muralitharan, the most successful bowler in the history of cricket, joined the delegation traveling to the Caribbean to take part in the crucial final presentation to Commonwealth delegates.

Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Hambantota 2018 organising committee co-chairman, said: “Murali is a sporting legend.  Cricket's highest wicket-taker in both forms of the international game; the first player to take 1,000 wickets combined. We hope he can help deliver another first – a Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games that itself will deliver so much for our unified nation and our people.”

Meanwhile, Australia’s Gold Coast will also be hoping to make an impression with its delegation in St Kitts.

The bid committee will be joined by Indigenous Australian R&B singer Jessica Mauboy and dancers from the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said it was important the entertainment provided a distinctly indigenous focus, as it was high brand recognition for Australia.

“We are fortunate and excited to secure both Jessica Mauboy and dancers from Tjapukai who will provide a unique experience for the Commonwealth Games Federation representatives and voting delegates in attendance,” she said.

The decision on who will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games will be made at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) general assembly in St Kitts & Nevis next Friday, 11 November, at 18:00 local time.

Keywords · IAAF World Championships · Commonwealth Games · London · Doha · Hambantota · Gold Coast

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