DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar says it will counter heat concerns surrounding its bid for the 2017 athletics world championships by air conditioning the main stadium and holding the marathons and walking races at night.
The bid’s executive director told reporters Wednesday that heat was a concern among the IAAF officials inspecting the sites during a two-day visit to the Gulf nation, where summertime temperatures often surpass 104 degrees. But Abdulla Ahmed al-Zaini said organizers would prove that they can tackle the issue, in similar fashion to Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid.
Qatar is competing against London to stage track and field’s showpiece event. London plans to hold the event in late July or early August, while Qatar has proposed staging it in September.
Qatar also is bidding for the 2020 Olympics.
