Federation Focus: Athletes to Feel the Heat in Doha

(ATR) The latest change to the 2020 Wanda Diamond League schedule means a return to the heat of Qatar almost exactly a year after the World Athletics Championships.

The Doha Diamond League, the traditional season opener, was originally rescheduled from April to October 9 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But that date has now been moved up to Sept. 25. The 2019 World Athletics Championships ran from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6.

The air-conditioned Khalifa Stadium was last year’s Diamond League and Worlds venue. This year the event returns to the natural environment of Qatar SC Stadium, where it was held from 2010 to 2018.

The 3000 meters is the longest distance race among the 12 disciplines expected to be staged, so there shouldn’t be a repeat of the troubles encountered during the road racing events at last year’s Worlds. A number of competitors needed medical care due to heat, even though the events were scheduled for midnight.

Even so, the average high temperature for Doha on Sept. 25 is 99 Fahrenheit (37 Celsius) with the temperature still at 88 Fahrenheit (31 Celsius) at 9 p.m. in the evening. By contrast, the average temperature at 9 p.m. for the original date of April 17 is 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25 Celsius).

Following exhibition events in Oslo and Zurich earlier this summer, the competitive Diamond League season is set to begin in Monaco on August 14. There are only seven meets on the current calendar, including one exhibition street event in Lausanne. So far, six meets have been cancelled for 2020.

FIS Congress Postponed to 2021

The FIS Council decided that the 52nd FIS Congress 2020 will be postponed from Oct. 4 in Zurich until June 5, 2021 in Portoroz, Slovenia to protect the health and welfare of all participants.

The elections for FIS president and council will be on hold until the new date.

That means Gian Franco Kasper, who has been president since 1998, will stay on for a while longer. The 76-year-old announced in November that he was retiring.

The Council will convene online on October 3 to choose the organizers for the FIS World Ski Championships 2025 in the Alpine and Nordic Events. Each of the four candidates will make its final presentation by video prior to the election.

IWF Athletes’ Commission Nominations

The International Weightlifting Federation is accepting nominations for its Athletes’ Commission until August 12.

Athletes will have a say in the decision making process in accordance to IWF constitution and by-laws. The Athletes’ Commission will serve as the voice of the athletes, with a term beginning Sept. 1 until after the scheduled dates for Tokyo 2020.

Athletes can nominate themselves in addition to receiving nominations from athletes or their National Federation.

WBSC Meets for Post-Covid Planning

In order to better expand the sport, the World Baseball and Softball Confederation Presidential Council emphasized the importance of staying connected online.

The council will engage by creating online content for its 200 members in nearly 140 countries. WBSC also has plans to make these online tools available to countries growing the sport and seeking to establish a new National Federation.

Meeting virtually, the council also discussed strategies during and following the coronavirus pandemic, including changes in how international events like the World Cup are organized.

World Surfing Games Rescheduled

The International Surfing Association announced the postponement of the World Surfing Games until 2021. The announcement was made in accordance with the health and safety guidelines of the host country El Salvador.

The World Surfing Games, originally scheduled for May 2020, will now be held from May 8-16, 2021. The event will remain a qualifier for Tokyo 2020, awarding 12 slots - five for men and seven for women - to the highest placed, eligible athletes.

"We are in constant dialogue with our partners and stakeholders - including the World Surf League. We are confident that this postponement will put us in the best position to celebrate a safe and spectacular edition of the event in the lead up to the Olympic Games," said ISA President Fernando Aguerre.

Written by Gerard Farekand Greer Wilson

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