Germany’s Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, said he expected the athletics World Championships in China to see strong competition among the athletes and high standards enjoyed by sports fans around the world. Speaking at a joint press conference with IAAF president Lamine Diack, who remains in office until the championships’ flag is handed over to London under IAAF tradition, the German said talk of doping and other issues could dominate the discourse, but that athletics retained its strength, character and the rivalry of its stars. He added that talk of competition would always continue, and that the world’s champions would show great strength at the mother of sports event in China. Bach reiterated his expectation of strong competition among athletics stars, who had certainly been affected by what had recently been raised.
