The Evaluation Commission of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) today begins inspecting Qatar’s sports facilities as world body officials wind up their two-stop tour of cities bidding for the 2017 World Championships in Athletics. Prior to their arrival in Doha last night, the IAAF officials made a trip to London, the only other city bidding to win the flagship event in world athletics. The World Championships in Athletics is an event organised by the IAAF. Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially. The last edition was held in Daegu, Korea, in September. The next edition will be held in 2013 in Moscow, Russia, before the show moves to Beijing, China, in 2015. Qatar yesterday underlined its intention of moving ahead with IAAF as a viable sports partner as the athletics-loving country looked to impressing the Evaluation Commission with the facilities in Doha. Abdulla Al Zaini, President of the QAAF and Executive Director of Doha 2017 Bid Committee, said: “The goal of the two-day visit by the IAAF isn’t just about showing them our venues and explaining what we want to do. It is about working with them to develop the best concept for the 2017 World Championships. Doha 2017 is a partner to the IAAF so we want to listen to what they want and work together.” The IAAF Evaluation Commission will start their tour with a visit to two of the main venues that are being proposed for the 2017 event. Khalifa Stadium and the Aspire Zone will be the first stop on the tour. The proposed main competition site, Khalifa Stadium, is set to be refurbished by 2016, just prior to the Championships. It will become the first climate controlled stadium to host an Athletics World Championships and will also be, by 2017, one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in the world. “As part of the refurbishment plans for the 2017 Championships, a giant panoramic screen will be installed across the stadium allowing fans to experience the action in a new way – imagine the 100m sprint flashing across the giant screen in one single view – it will be like never before,” an official said yesterday. With a state-of-the-art stadium surrounded by world-class warm up, media and medical facilities, all within the Aspire Zone, the proposed venue for the 2017 World Championships will set new standards. The second stop on the IAAF’s tour will be the Qatar Foundation’s new conference facility, the Qatar National Convention Centre. This beautiful new facility is the proposed location for the 2017 Congress for the IAAF. THE PENINSULA The proposed venues Main stadium Khalifa Stadium is the right venue for the 2017 World Championships. Already a state-of-the-art venue, the stadium will undergo an exciting redevelopment project to be completed in 2016. This redevelopment is taking place in preparation for the 2017 IAAF World Championships and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Khalifa Stadium will be one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in the world, making it possible for an IAAF World Championships like never before. Road Races Venues Doha will provide one of the most picturesque and dramatic road race venues in the history of the IAAF World Championships. Staged along Doha’s famous central waterfront promenade – the Corniche - the entire course runs beside the water, with Doha Bay on one side and Doha City Center along the other. Doha 2017 proposes a magnificent night marathon directly following the grand Opening Ceremony of the 2017 Championships. Training Venues Doha 2017 will provide athletes with three dedicated training venues in addition to the competition and warm-up venues. Two venues - Qatar Sports Club and Al Sadd Sports Club - will cater exclusively for running and jumping events. One venue – Al Arabi Sports Club - will be dedicated specifically for throwing events. All three venues are existing, well-established, multi-sports clubs with all the necessary facilities already in place. Accommodation Whether an athlete, media, IAAF family, official or fan, Doha 2017 will offer the very best in accommodation. Athletes will stay in a newly-built “Athletics’ City” offering the best in accommodation, entertainment and catering. With no shortage of quality accommodation options everyone visiting Qatar will be welcomed with the utmost efficiency and professionalism. http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar-sport/167811-doha-bid-team-set-to-show-off-top-facilities.html

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