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QATAR BLAME SAUDI ARABIA FOR POOR IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ATTENDANCE
BY DUNCAN MACKAY.
Officials in Qatar have blamed the television schedule and the Saudi Arabia-led blockade for the poor attendances at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships.
The image of the event so far has been the sight of an almost empty Khalifa International Stadium as the world’s top athletes compete in the sport’s flagship event.
The Stadium normally holds 40,000 but that has been reduced to just 17,000 for these Championships, with most of the top tier of the seating covered up.
It is claimed that 11,800 turned up for the opening session on Friday and 11,300 for the following day which featured the men’s 100 metres final.
But most of the crowd, largely made of migrant workers, had left by the time Christian Coleman crossed the finishing line to claim the gold medal in a race that started at 10.15pm.
The situation was even worse for women’s 100m won by Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Qatari officials admit that less than 8,000 turned up with the majority departing long before the showpiece race at 11.20pm.
The challenge we face with a competition schedule that is geared to support global TV viewership, is that some finals are not starting until the late evening,” said a statement from Doha 2019.
“This impacts on the number of spectators remaining until the end of the session.
“We know it is a balance and we are pleased global viewers can tune in to watch the live action from Doha.”
Expatriate workers make up 88 per cent of the population in Qatar and many are from countries whose interest is not in the sprints, normally the blue riband event of these Championships.
“The pattern of the attendance so far follows the interests of the local community, with middle and long distance races pulling in the biggest crowds, rather than traditional sprint events, and we would like to thank all the fans that have supported these athletes,” Doha 2019 said.
Doha 2019 claimed it is “confident that our renewed efforts will encourage the local community to come and witness the stunning performance of the world’s best athletes”.
Making it appear even worse is that this event is being held two years after London staged the Championships, when a record 660,000 tickets were sold for the 10-day event.
When they were awarded these Championships in 2014, Qatar had claimed it was confident it would be able to fill the Stadium with supporters flying in from around the Middle East to attend.
Now officials are also blaming the current political situation in the Gulf for the lack of interest in the Championships.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt are among several countries who have severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and imposed a blockade after they claimed Doha was supporting terrorism.
“Our vision was for a first World Championship in the Middle East,” Doha 2019 said.
“An IAAF World Athletics Championships that would welcome the world and connect to new fans.
“Despite facing unique challenges as hosts, in terms of the political blockade, that ambition remains.
“To date we have witnessed over 80 different nationalities in the Stadium, the vast majority enjoying athletics for the first time.
“The athletes competing at Khalifa International Stadium
and fans attending have all relished the experience.
With the marathon and race walks being held after midnight to avoid the searing Qatar heat and humidity, but athletes still collapsing as the conditions take their toll, it all adds to the impression of an event that is being held in the wrong location.
It is a theory Doha 2019 defends itself against.
“The controlled temperature conditions on the track have been ideal and fitting for world-class performances and will remain so,” organisers said.
“Whether it is understanding athlete performances in endurance events or stadium design, this Championship is benefitting world sport and important progress is being made.”
One person seemingly not bothered by the lack of people in the Stadium last night was Fraser-Pryce, winner of her fourth IAAF World Championships 100m title, 10 years after winning her first in front of a crowd of 40,000.
This time she was just happy her two-year-old son Zyon and husband Jason were there.
“Doha got the right to hold the event,” Fraser-Pryce said.
“You have to give and take.
“There might not have been many people in the Stadium but the two most important people to me were there.”
-insidethegames
African teams will battle for the remaining qualification spots for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup this weekend as the final round of qualifiers reaches its climax across the continent.
In Kampala, Ghana will attempt to protect a slender 2-1 first-leg advantage when they face Uganda’s U20 girls away from home.
Cameroon are also in a strong position ahead of their return-leg clash against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam after securing a 3-1 victory in the first meeting.
Meanwhile, Benin will fancy their chances of advancing when they host Côte d’Ivoire following a 1-1 draw in Abidjan.
Nigeria’s Falconets are equally close to qualification after earning a 2-0 first-leg victory over Malawi ahead of Saturday’s decisive encounter in Lilongwe.
The successful teams will join the global field for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next year.
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The London Marathon broke the record for the highest number of finishers in a marathon, with 59,830 participants completing the course to surpass the mark of 59,226 at last year’s New York City event.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe shattered the world record to become the first man to run the marathon in under two hours, followed by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also breached the two-hour barrier on Sunday.
“To then break the record of the largest number of finishers in the history of marathons underlines the inspirational nature of the London Marathon. We are incredibly proud to have set a new Guinness World Record,” said Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events.
In the women’s race, three women ran under two hours and 16 minutes in a single race for the first time ever, as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa defended her title by shattering her own women ‘s-only world record
-Reuters
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By George Akpayen
The finish line is now in sight in this season’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), and much of the talk has centred on the title race and those at the other end of the table, which surprisingly include last season’s champions Remo Stars.
However, there is another race shaping up among the leading top scorers this season, and this could see as many as six or more players going head-to-head in the final six matchdays.
Top contenders in the race for the battle for the golden boot are Enugu Rangers’ striker, Godwin Obaje and Ikorodu City winger Joseph Arumala, who have scored 11 goals apiece.
On the tails of the top-two scoring individuals are Victor Mbaoma (Remo Stars), El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Daddy Abdulrahman, Katsina United’s Uche Collins and Emeka Obioma of Abia Warriors, all on 10 goals each.
THE PERFORMANCE BREAKDOWN
Out of the top-six leading scorers, Obaje, Arumala and Mbaoma have more direct goal involvement. Obaje and Arumala have 11 goals and two assists each, while Mbaoma has 10 goals and assists from 23 appearances, which is the least number of matches featured in among the leading scorers. Mbaoma missed most of the early parts of the season due to bruised ribs.
El-Kanemi Warriors midfielder Abdulrahman has made the most appearances among the top-six scorers and has a 12-goal direct involvement (10 goals + two assists).
Obioma is however, the only top-six scorer who is yet to register an assist this season after 26 appearances for Abia Warriors.
Interestingly, Collins is the only top-six scorer who has netted a hat-trick this season so far.
THE CHASING PACK
There is also the chasing pack in the race for the Golden Boot. One of them is Plateau United winger Temitope Vincent Adebayo, who has scored nine goals. Sodiq Ibrahim (3SC), Enyimba striker Chidera Michael, and Igbunu Evwierhurhoma of Warri Wolves.
The variety of players in the chasing pack also makes the race intriguing as they have been consistent goal scorers in recent matchweeks. They are definitely breathing down the necks of the frontrunners.
There are also the outsiders in the race. Jonathan Mairiga of Wikki Tourists, Chidozie Iwundu (Rangers) and Bendel Insurance duo of Kayode Oke, 3SC’s Qamar Adegoke and Alex Oweilayefa – all on eight goals. On seven goals is Kano Pillars legend Rabiu Ali.
WORTHY MENTION
However, Iwundu deserves a big mention among the top scorers as he is the top-scoring defender. He has made 29 appearances for Rangers and has been booked three times and sent off once.
Iwundu’s goalscoring form from his centre-back role has also been important for his club in their title aspirations this season, and his team will hope his form can continue into the final six matchdays.
No doubt, there will be twists and turns for individual glory in a race that is still wide open. Fixture difficulty, favourable run-in, struggling defences and hunger in front of goal are surely going to be among the factors that would decide who wins this race in an unpredictable league. At this point, nothing is guaranteed as all top marksmen are odds-on to claim the top individual prize.
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