LS
As you can see, I started forwarding IAAF press releases to your
list(s). Feedback is appreciated: if there are many objections by
subscribers to a certain list, I will strike it from my list of
addressees...
Regards,
WK
PS to those who do like to receive the releases: I will try and keep it
going longer this time.


EVALUATION COMMISSION VISITS BERLIN BRUSSELS AND ROME
21 March 2002

MONACO – Monte Carlo - The IAAF Evaluation Commission, set up to analyse
the bids of six candidates interested in
hosting the 2005 World Championships following the withdrawal of London,
has reached the halfway point in its mission,
following visits to Berlin, Brussels and Rome.

The chairman of the Commission, IAAF Vice President Dapeng Lou (CHN),
said: “We started work on Sunday and
crammed in as many visits and meetings as we could on the four days
available to us. We have a mandate to gather
detailed information and first hand impressions, but can also help each
city improve their bid by pointing out areas where
they can improve. I am looking forward to visiting Helsinki, Moscow and
Budapest after the World Cross Championships in
Dublin.”

IAAF President Lamine Diack commented that he was looking forward to
receiving the full de-brief once the trips were
completed. “Last year, when London pulled out of the World Championships
I was bitterly disappointed. However, today, I
am extremely positive because the interest of these 6 major cities shows
how attractive our World Championships has
become. I am grateful for the very fact that they have entered the race,
because this bid process is helping to promote
our sport.

Indeed, any one of these cities would be capable of hosting an excellent
event, and it is a shame that the Council will only
be able to select one winner in Nairobi on 14 April. All the bids offer
good technical facilities, well-considered budgets
and, perhaps most importantly, extremely solid support from political
authorities. I think it is significant that our delegation
was met in Germany by the Chancellor himself, Gerhard Schröder, as well
as by State Premier of Berlin Klaus Wowereit,
in Brussels by the Lord Mayor Freddy Thielemans as well as by the
Speaker of the Parliament Herman de Croo and in
Rome by the Mayor Walter Veltroni and by the President of the Italian
Olympic Committee Gianni Petrucci. The political
involvement has been impressive so far.”

The IAAF Evaluation Commission leaves for Helsinki on Sunday 24 March
and returns from Budapest on 28 March. The
IAAF Council will select the host of the 2005 World Championships on 14
April 2002.


For more information please contact Nick Davies on: +33 6 07 93 62 85