Qatar is all set to host the upcoming International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, becoming the first country in the Middle East to ever do so.
With the highly-anticipated event moving closer toward its kickoff in September, tickets already went on sale in November 2018 and the official mascot Falah - the Falcon was launched two months earlier.
Under the build-up to the mega sporting event, the largest of its kind athletics exhibition has opened in Doha, featuring an enormous display of athletics items and artifacts dating from the 2nd century to the present day.
#رياضة | #قطر
— الراية القطرية (@alraya_n) April 19, 2019
صور افتتاح معرض تراث بطولات العالم لألعاب القوى "1983-2019 " بمجمع السيتي سنتر ويضم العديد من الصور ومقاطع الفيديو والملابس والأدوات الرياضية لنجوم ألعاب القوى من شتى قارات العالم، ويستمر حتى نهاية بطولة العالم لألعاب القوى بالدوحة.#جريدة_الراية_القطرية pic.twitter.com/mUdH6huqhE
The IAAF Heritage World Athletics Championships Exhibition, whose first edition was held in Finland 36 years ago, is considered as the third most important sporting event across the globe, according to an IAAF press release.
The exhibition, which runs for six months, until October 7, was officially opened on Thursday at the City Center Doha in the presence of IAAF president Sebastian Coe and Dahlan Al Hamad, IAAF vice president and director general of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 local organizing committee.
Moreover, six world champions participate in the opening ceremony to donate and loan their sports kits.
Four-time Olympic champion Lasse Viren donated the pair of Onitsuka Tiger ASICS shoes, which he wore when running the marathon at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Following his second Olympic 5000m and 10,000m double, Viren took 5th place in the marathon.
Next, Coe presented his 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games spikes and national vest from his second 1500m Olympic victory.
Another British running star, Liz McColgan, 10,000m world champion of 1991, was next up on stage. McColgan loaned her winning spikes – already donated to the ASICS museum in Kobe – for display at the Heritage Exhibition.
The most weighty of the donations, in some respects, came from Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk. Firstly, the two-time Olympic and three-time world champion was the most medalled of all the guests of the night.
Secondly, Wlodarczyk donated the 4kg hammer to the IAAF Heritage Collection, with which she made the first 80m+ world record set by a woman.
Qatar’s national heroes, Mutaz Essa Barshim and Abderrahman Samba then came to the stage to officially donate their pre-announced donations of kit.
#Qatar’s @mutazbarshim and @almbrek96 donate Olympic and Continental Cup kit to IAAF Heritage Exhibition in Doha – One week to go! https://t.co/E1KhJcdaUh#Doha2019 #IAAFWorlds #AimBeyond
— IAAFDoha2019 (@IAAFDoha2019) April 11, 2019
Barshim offered his London 2012 Olympic Games competition vest and number, while Samba handed over the bodysuit which he wore when winning the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018 400m hurdles title.
While the exhibition is being held in Doha, the Asian Athletics Championships, Doha Diamond League and IAAF World Athletics Championships will be taking place in parallel and are expected to bring thousands of athletes, officials, media officials and fans to Qatar, according to Qatar Tribune.
Regarding the exhibition, IAAF president, Coe said, “Athletics is an ancient sport but there is nothing old about how this exhibition showcases our history."
“There are huge audio photo walls, LED screens showing archive competition action. There’s the chance to explore the heights and weights of champions, lift the implements, touch the hurdles and stand back in awe and admire the world record heights and distances of the jumpers,” he described.
“Adding to those attractions, there are hundreds of items of wonderful athletics clothing and equipment donated and loaned by some of the greatest stars of our sport on display. This exhibition is a must see for all sports fans,” concluded Coe.
Will you be heading over to see the exhibition? Let us know in the comments below!
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