Doha Confident Over Athletics Bid; Strong Sales for 2012 Paralympics

Doha Ready for Athletics Worlds

The head of the Doha 2017 athletics world championship bid says his city is ready to stage the event.

Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani made the comments in Brussels at the last Diamond League event on the athletics calendar.

He was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying Doha hosting the event would open a "new frontier" for athletics.

Al Thani also added that Doha’s stadium is already built, while rival bidder London has what he claims is an uncertain athletics legacy for its proposed venue –the Olympic Stadium.

AFP also quotes the Sheikh as saying that hosting the 2017 worlds would "give added value" to the Doha 2020 Olympic bid.

"Great News" on 2012 Paralympic Ticket Apps

LOCOG says there is strong interest in Paralympic tickets halfway through the process.

In a statement, LOCOG says "some sessions are already oversubscribed" but "there is still good availability across all sports."

Track cycling and swimming events in the evening are currently over-subscribed at high price points, LOCOG says, a first for the Paralympics.

The £20.12 tickets for opening and closing ceremonies are also oversubscribed.

"It is great news that one year out we can say that for the first time in Paralympic Games history, some sessions will be oversubscribed, but there are still lots of opportunities to be part of London 2012," LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe said in a statement.

"With ParalympicsGB aiming to emulate their spectacular success at the last Games, there will be some memorable British sporting moments to be part of."

Manfred Kohl, Paralympic Gold Medalist

Manfred Kohl, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist, died on Sept. 9 after a battle with cancer, the International Paralympic Committee said in a statement.

Kohl was a member of German’s standingvolleyball team from 1988 through 2000. The IPC called him a "Paralympic hero" and said he is one of the most successful Paralympians ever.

"I would like to pass on the most sincere condolences from my wife, Jocelyne, myself and the whole Paralympic family to one of our movement’s greatest champions in the broadest of senses," said IPC president Philip Craven.

Kohl was a member of the IPC athletes’ commission and executive board in addition to other top roles in the Paralympic movement.

Following his playing career, Kohl served as Program Manager for Athlete Classification for the Sydney Paralympic Organizing Committeeand as Section Manager of NPC Relations & Services for ATHOC.

Kohl is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and his daughter, Jasmin.

Generations for Peace Sochi Camp

Generations for Peace will hold its second Generations for Peace Camp in Sochi in October.

The NGO inked an agreement with the Sochi City Administration on Friday. Mark Clark, CEO of Generations For Peace, and Anatoly Nikolayevich Pakhomov, Mayor of Sochi, were present for the signing ceremony.

IOC member Feisal Al Hussein, who is founder and chairman of Generations for Peace, said "This is another important milestone in the global development of Generations For Peace. The renewed partnership with our Russian friends shows that last year’s groundbreaking event in Sochi worked. It shows that success breeds success and that we can partner with cities and organisations all over the world who are building a positive legacy for the future and share with us an understanding of the positive impacts achieved from harnessing the power of sport for long-term sustainable peace and development."

Generations for Peace uses sport to promote peace and development throughout the world.

Written by Ed Hula III and Ann Cantrell.