Have planning and punctuality become Chinese specialties? Two years and two days before the opening of the world athletics championships in Beijing, scheduled from August 29 to September 6, 2015, everything seems ready in the Asian capital. Or, if not ready, at least planned down to the smallest detail.
A delegation from Beijing 2015 held a press conference in a lounge at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, on the last day of the 2013 world athletics championships. At the center of the table, Li Yingchuan, the Chinese city's sports boss. Upright as justice, the man sent out the usual thanks and politeness in a few sentences, before launching into a twenty-minute speech in which all aspects of the organization were reviewed, with a luxury of details and a wealth of information. Bluffing.
From this practical guide for future visitors to the 2015 World Athletics Championships, FancsJeux has retained:
– The world championships will take place during the “golden season” in Beijing, a time of year when the climate is particularly conducive to athletics (falling temperatures, cooler evenings).
– The Bird’s Nest, where the athletics events and the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games were organized in 2008, will be renovated next year, the day after the Beijing IAAF Meeting. “ We are going to change the color, with something very harmonious », announced the Chinese.
– The same Bird's Nest may not be used to its full capacity (80 spectators) during the 000 Worlds. The organizers have indicated that they will only open the third crown, the highest, if the ticket sales are a success beyond their expectations. Otherwise, the Beijing stadium will be reduced to 2015 seats. “ A result that would satisfy us greatly, admitted the Chinese organizers. But we will make sure there are no empty seats. » A vast promotional campaign for the event, expected to be very attractive, must begin well in advance. It will be particularly oriented towards young people. “ And we will distribute free places to school and high school students"
– The main training stadium for the Worlds will be located approximately 6 km from the Bird’s Nest. This is Olympic equipment that was used in the modern pentathlon at the 2008 Games.
– The marathon route will be traced in central Beijing, with the aim of visiting some of the city's most recognizable historical places.
– The official website for the 2015 Worlds will be accessible very soon. “ We were waiting for the end of the 2013 World Championships in Moscow to open it to Internet users “, explained the Asian organizers.
Photo: Craig Maccubbin / Wikimedia
