Qatar is promising an air-conditioned stadium, night marathons and a September starting date while trying to convince track and field’s ruling body that the country is not too hot to host the 2017 world championships.
Qatar employed a similar strategy to win the right to host the 2022 World Cup and will do the same in its bid for the 2020 Olympics that was announced this year.
Abdulla Ahmed al-Zaini, the 2017 bid’s executive director, said Wednesday heat was a concern among the IAAF officials who visited Doha on the first of a two-day inspection visit. They came straight from London, which is the other city bidding to stage one of track and field’s marquee events. (AP)
