Six-day Observer Programme takes place in Birmingham

More than 30 people participated in a six-day IAAF Observer Programme that coincided with the IAAF World Indoor Championships Birmingham 2018.

The programme, which takes place on the margins of various IAAF World Athletics Series events, is designed to provide prospective hosts of future competitions with a real time behind-the-scenes look at the some of the operational demands that hosting a global IAAF event requires.

Among the 35 participants in Birmingham were members of the Doha 2019 and Nanjing 2020 local organising committees, representing the hosts of the forthcoming world outdoor and world indoor championships, respectively. They were joined by representatives of other prospective hosts cities and federations, including Jamaica Athletics, UK Sport, the City of Torun, members of the Asaba 2018 African Championships local organising committee, and representatives of the 2019 Netball World Cup.

Facilitated by Michael Reilly, the CEO of the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 LOC, the programme included discussions and presentations on a wide variety of topics related to the overall planning and delivery of an IAAF World Indoor Championships, from both an LOC and IAAF point of view, including logistics, marketing and distribution rights, civic engagement and communication.

IAAF