Andreas Thorkildsen to support Doha’s bid for the 2017 IAAF World Championships – Athletics news
Andreas Thorkildsen, the 29-year-old Javelin Thrower from Norway will visit Doha to support the city’s bid for the 2017 IAAF World Championships. The Kristiansand-born athlete, who is the first male athlete to bag both the European Championships and World
Championships in his discipline, as per an announcement made by the Doha 2017 Bid committee, will visit the city to pursue with his aforementioned cause next week.
Thorkildsen, the 2009 World Champion came under the limelight after displaying stellar performances at the European, World and Olympic championships. However, before dominating the field at senior level, he had already impressed at the World Junior Championships
where for claiming the World Junior title, he placed the new world record. The current personal best of the athlete, set in 2006, stands at 91.59m.
The Norwegian, who has already been to Doha to participate in the Samsung Diamond League this year, is keen to support the city’s efforts to win the bid for hosting the 2017 world athletics event. The Javelin Thrower’s visit to Doha has been scheduled at
a time when the IAAF Evaluation Commission is also scheduled to visit the city on fifth and sixth of this month.
While commenting on his decision to support Doha’s bid, Thorkildsen said, “I had a great experience competing in Doha and I can see that their experience in and commitment to Athletics will continue to grow. If athletics wants to set new standards for a
World Championships that will take my sport to the next level then Doha is without doubt the right place.”
Acknowledging and the Norwegian athlete’s efforts and thanking him for his support, Abdullah Al Zaini, Executive Director of Doha 2017 Bid Committee and President of the QAAF said, “We are honoured to have Andreas’ support for our bid and glad to have him
here for the evaluation visit. We want to have a World Championships in 2017 that exceeds expectations for everyone, including the Athletics.”
With Andreas there and the IAAF Evaluation Commission visiting the city, the athletics authorities in Doha have planned to inaugurate the launch of the School Olympic programme. As the name suggests, kids’ athletics will serve as the corner stone to the
youth programme.
In last year alone, due to the support extended by Qatar Association of Athletics Federation and Qatar Olympic Committee, a staggering total of 17,492 students participated in the five months long programme. Now, on the basis of all these efforts and support
endorsed by Andreas, whether the IAAF decides in favour of Doha or not, will become clear in a few weeks’ time.
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