Russia’s Sergey Shubenkov and France’s Pascal Martinot-Lagarde have become the latest stars to back Doha’s bid to host the 2019 World Athletics Championships, with the two young 110m hurdles champions believing Doha is the ideal choice to take the world of athletics into a bright future. The young Russian Sergey Shubenkov, only 23, has achieved a great deal during his career. He began setting his personal records at last year’s World Championships in Moscow, where he won bronze in front of his home crowd – Russia’s first ever medal in the World Championships hurdles race. Shubenkov also holds two European titles, being the first Russian European champion in the history of the high hurdles. Although Shubenkov has already made his mark in the record books, there is clearly much more for this rising star to achieve
Shubenkov fully understands what it means to compete in a championship in front of your home crowd, and the wonderful impact that hosting such an event leaves on a country, especially after competing in front of his home fans at the World Championships. Hurdling’s popularity in Russia has grown since Shubenkov won bronze last year. Shubenkov feels it is important for new regions to get the same opportunity, so that more young people can be inspired through athletics. This, together with his experience of competing in Doha – where he finished second at this year’s Diamond League meeting – means Shubenkov believes Doha is the ideal choice to host the 2019 World Athletics Championships
Shubenkov said: “I won the bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in Moscow in front of my home crowd. The following week, my hurdles coach noticed a big increase in the number of people taking part in training sessions. I am proud that my performance inspired many young Russians to try hurdling. The Middle East has never before hosted the World Athletics Championships, and 60 percent of the region’s population is under 30, which offers a wonderful opportunity to present athletics and introduce a new generation to track and field. I support the Doha 2019 bid because I believe it will be a source of inspiration for a new region to take part in athletics”
Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, 22, is another talented young hurdler, following his win in this year’s race on the Diamond League circuit. The 2010 world youth champion won this year’s Diamond League hurdles title last month after edging out his rivals on points, finishing ahead of 2013 world champion David Oliver and Shubenkov, who took second and third respectively. He went on to win silver at this year’s World Indoor Championships, and Martinot-Lagarde’s 2014 Diamond League campaign began in Doha, where he scored his first Diamond League points of his career, ensuring Doha will always stay in his memory. This was his first direct experience of Doha’s world-class, athlete-friendly facilities, and it is what led him to back the Doha 2019 bid.
Pascal Martinot-Lagarde said: “Athletes competing in one of the biggest competitions of their lives think of nothing but delivering their best performance. My experience competing in Doha shows they have thought of everything possible – transport is very good, I loved the food there, and I enjoyed the city’s wonderful facilities, where everything we need is easy to reach. The weather was perfect and the crowd was outstanding. I support the Doha 2019 bid because I know it will guarantee a successful World Championships.”
Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, President of the Qatar and Asian Athletics Federations, commented on Sergey Shubenkov and Pascal Martinot-Lagarde’s support for the Doha 2019 bid, saying: “Sergey Shubenkov and Pascal Martinot-Lagarde are two talented young athletes confident that hurdling and athletics have a bright future in the years ahead, and it is a genuine honour for us that they support the Doha 2019 bid, given that they appreciate the opportunities Doha will offer the World Athletics Championships. Hosting the World Athletics Championships in the Middle East for the first time, and creating a platform for athletics to reach new audiences, participants and partners, will be a source of inspiration for a new generation, a new region and a new culture embracing athletics, the number one sport for athletes. By 2019 some athletes may be at the start of their careers, and their rivalry will be one of the highlights of the World Championships. We are delighted they have chosen Doha as their preferred place to compete in one of the biggest competitions of their lives. Doha offers guaranteed success thanks to its world-class facilities and its strong record of hosting international athletics and other sporting events, together with the high level of service provided to athletes, officials, spectators and media.”
As well as hosting the annual Diamond League meeting, Doha also hosted the 2010 World Indoor Championships, and some events of the 2019 World Championships will be held at Khalifa International Stadium, which previously hosted the 2006 Asian Games and sits at the heart of Aspire Zone, the sports complex that includes the largest number of facilities for world sport and that regularly hosts major sporting events alongside some of the best sports medicine, education and research facilities.
Doha is competing to host the championships against other cities including Eugene in the United States and Barcelona in Spain. Each city submitted its bid on 25 September, and an IAAF evaluation committee will visit them later in October, after which the IAAF Council will make its final decision at its meeting in Monaco in November.
