London bows out of 2015 World Athletics Championships bid
London has withdrawn its bid for the 2015 World Athletics Championships.
The city that will host the 2012 Olympics Games opted out of a bid with Beijing on Wednesday, 3 November, for the World Athletics Championships.
London revealed anxieties about its 2012 Olympic stadium following the Olympic Games. It is now expected that money put in the pot will
be directed to the same international event in 2017.
Due to the withdrawal, the Chinese capital will likely be officially recognized as hosts by the International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF) on 20 November.
Plans to host the 2015 Championships were complicated, in large part, by the fact that a number of those with financial stakes in
the 2012 stadium had plans of removing the running track after the Olympics.
Some involved in the bidding also felt that committing to a bid and winning would subject them to legal action.
In light of the government trumping the 2015 bid, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said he hoped the same thing wouldn't happen as dates approach for the 2017 World Athletic Championships.
"That is still to be completely confirmed, but I would be very disappointed if that were not the case," Robertson said.
"We are absolutely committed to staging the greatest sporting events in the UK and that, of course, includes the IAAF World Championships.”
Robertson added that it was, at the very least, a relief that London was able to withdraw now and avoid a situation like that of 2001, when the government withdrew from London's Picketts
Lock at a later date.
Chairman of UK Athletics Ed Warner said, “Obviously we are disappointed not to be pursuing our 2015 bid, especially after securing the support of both the Government and the Mayor
of London.
“However, we need to present the IAAF with a bid that is free of any uncertainties.
"That is not something we can commit to until the process regarding the future of the stadium, which we fully support, is concluded.”
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