Franka Dietzsch of Germany - third World Discus Throw title (© Getty Images)
Ahead of this month’s IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany (22 / 23 Sep), Andreas Kroll, the Managing Director of the Local Organising Committee, was recently interviewed b y IAAF website’s German correspondent Jörg Wenig –
With little more than a week to go – how are ticket sales developing?
Andreas Kroll: “At present we have sold close to 35,000 tickets. Compared to the same period last year this is a bit more than in 2006. A year ago we finally had 56,000 spectators on the two days. Our goal is set at 60,000 this year. But our hope is to have 35,000 each day. To welcome 70,000 on that weekend would be a great success.”
What will you do during the remaining days to inspire more people to come to the World Athletics Final (WAF)?
Andreas Kroll: “We will increase our promotion and advertising during the final week before the event. We will promote the WAF on the radio, in papers and we will have posters in the city. Additionally we will work together with a number of schools. Children have only returned to school from their summer holidays this past Monday in this part of Germany. We had contacted schools before their summer break and now we will visit them and encourage them to come to the stadium. Pupils will get tickets at a reduced rates and the accompanying teachers will not have to pay for their tickets.”
German athletes were more successful than expected at the World Championships in Osaka. Do you note more interest for the WAF because of this?
Andreas Kroll: “Indeed the success of the German team in Osaka is reflected in the ticket sales. Since these World Championships we have experienced a much higher demand. We are continuing to promote the WAF with the help of the German medal winners. Unfortunately, Betty Heidler will not compete in Stuttgart, but on our posters we promote the other six medal winners from Osaka.”
Looking at your final preparations – is there anything different compared to last year?
Andreas Kroll: “I think we have one great advantage this time in the build-up. Last year we had no pictures or films showing athletes competing on the green track in the stadium. We talked a lot about it and had to explain that the green track would be great. Now we can show the pictures. And in my eyes they really look wonderful, the green track makes athletics more sympathetic.”
Do you have a personal favour for a certain event?
Andreas Kroll: “I am running, and I did a half marathon. So somehow all running events are my events. But I very much like the 110m Hurdles because of its speed combined with technical perfection. And I am looking very forward to the women’s high jumping, hoping for that 2.10m barrier to be broken in Stuttgart.”
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
