Why New Delhi?

[slowcoach]

Why are they holding the World Half in such a hot 'n' steamy place?

[Asterix]

Re: Why New Delhi?

Who else bid for it?

[kuha]

Re: Why New Delhi?

It's been decades since the comfort of the athletes has been any real concern to the relevant governing bodies. Nowadays, that ranks very low on the priority list.

[Realist]

Re: Why New Delhi?

It behooves the IAAF power structure to toss these tiny bones to places which have votes when it comes to keeping them in power. Staging an affair like ths gives great pride (seriously) to multiple countries in that part of the world and they will not have forgotten that the next time IAAF elections come around.

[kuha]

Re: Why New Delhi?

That's true, of course, but it's the athletes who pay the price for the resulting political and economic solidarity.

[Asterix]

Re: Why New Delhi?

Regardless of any concern or lack thereof for the athletes, if no one else bid for this event, then that is where they will be held. Who did New Delhi beat?

[Bob H]

Re: Why New Delhi?

>Who did New Delhi beat?<

Pila, Poland

[dr al morris]

Re: Why New Delhi?

According to the IAAF site today... President Lamine Diack says that ND provides universality. I must agree with him. Every nation needs to participate in some way in our worldwide sport of running.

[kuha]

Re: Why New Delhi?

Not to sound like a heathen, but there may be slightly higher priorities for "every nation" than this...

[mike renfro]

Re: Why New Delhi?

Why not? Think of the war stories. "There I was, running the IAAF half marathon, when out of the brush came this 3m cobra...."

[trackhead]

Re: Why New Delhi?

It's gonna be hot one; a half-Athens

http://www.weather.com/activities/trave ... d=INXX0096

New Delhi, India
October 2 Saturday
Mostly Sunny
High 95°F
Low 73°F
Precipitation: 0%

[gh]

Re: Why New Delhi?

Note that while next year's version is scheduled for Edmonton (Rockies road trip!), there's nothing yet in place for '06; last I heard, the whole concept was up in the air.

edited to change '07 to '06 (typo).

[Powell]

Re: Why New Delhi?

A story on the IAAF site said they were considering holding the world champs in conjunction with one of the existing commercial half-marathons in the future.
It might be a good idea, too. I remember when the 1991 London marathon was the World Cup as well - it ended up being one of the greatest fields ever assembled (certainly in terms of depth).