London Welcomes IAAF Evaluation Commission for the 2017 World Championships In Athletics

LONDON: To mark the arrival in London of the IAAF Evaluation Commission for the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships, UKA has unveiled top British athlete Jessica Ennis as an official ambassador for London’s bid via a giant projection on to London’s iconic landmark, Tower Bridge.

The visit by the Commission, chaired by IAAF Senior Vice-President, Bob Hersh, is a crucial step in the bidding process for London to secure the Athletics World Championships in 2017.

"We are pleased and honoured to welcome the IAAF Evaluation Commission to London. In the next two days, our aim is to impress! We will demonstrate not only have we got an excellent technical bid, but that the athletes will be at the heart of everything the championships is about." said Ed Warner, Chairman of UK Athletics.

Jessica Ennis, GB heptathlete and bid ambassador said: "I am excited at the prospect of bringing the IAAF World Athletics Championships to the UK in 2017 and proud to be supporting the London bid as an official ambassador. It’s amazing how many athletes have got behind the London 2017 bid already; it’s where we want to compete.

"Great Britain has such a strong history of supporting athletics and our fans are the most passionate and knowledgeable in the world. My fondest memories have come at the World Championships and I would love for athletes from all over the globe to have the same opportunity in London’s fantastic Olympic Stadium in 2017."

The first step for the Commission will be a meeting with Lord Sebastian Coe, Hugh Robertson, Boris Johnson and Baroness Margaret Ford to receive legal guarantees on being able to host the Championships in the Olympic Stadium.

The bid committee, comprising expertise from UKA, UK Sport, British Government, the Mayor’s office and London and Partners, will then present the technical bid for the Championships. This will include London’s programme and plans for technical organisation, transport, security, medical facilities, marketing and communications.

The Commission will also visit a number of hotels and venues as well as touring the Olympic Stadium.

Ed Warner added: "Our bid is strong and has the wholehearted support and involvement of the Government and the Mayor of London. We have the Olympic Stadium, the passionate fans who will pack each and every session of a World Championships and the commercial track record to deliver a sustainable long term legacy for our sport on a global level. We have one clear objective – to have one of the world’s greatest sporting events held in one of the world’s greatest cities.

"The image of Jessica, one of our great athletes, projected onto one of London's most iconic buildings sent shivers down my spine. It provides a great welcome to the Evaluation Commission and shows just how big athletics is in London – literally."

Following its visit to the Candidate Cities, the Evaluation Commission will deliver its report to the IAAF Council, and following each city’s final presentation to the Council at their meeting in Monaco on Friday 11 November 2011, the successful bidder will be announced.

A successful London 2017 bid would see the world’s greatest athletes returning to the Olympic Stadium and deliver a real legacy from London 2012 by bringing one of the biggest sporting events to the capital.

The London 2017 bid has been put together by UK Athletics, DCMS, the Mayor of London, London & Partners and UK Sport.

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