25 March 2015

London 2017’s preparations are making “significant progress” following an IAAF technical visit.

The routine check by the world governing body took place last week with delegates visiting the Stadium, the proposed marathon routes and receiving more details on services that would be provided for competing athletes.

Both the IAAF World Championships and the International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships will mark a spectacular summer of athletics with the two World Championships being staged in the same city for the first time ever in 2017.

Sally Bolton – Managing Director of the Organising Committee – welcomed the feedback:
“We were delighted to host the IAAF Delegates last week and very proud to demonstrate progress in a number of areas,” she said

“Receiving support for some of our proposals and the opportunity to discuss the ideas further massively benefits our organisation of the event at this early stage.

“We are determined to ensure we make the athlete experience at London 2017 the best ever and these visits help ensure we remain focussed on that goal.”

IAAF Competitions Director Paul Hardy said:

“We had a very productive and interesting visit and we are pleased with the significant progress being made in a range of areas.  Returning to the Stadium where we enjoyed such great success in 2012 was a real pleasure.

“We were able to see the transformation of the stadium and are confident that the Stadium will once again be host to a very successful athletics event in 2017. 

“We are also encouraged and excited by the proposed marathon course which will showcase many of the iconic parts of London which were not necessarily highlighted in 2012. “

The Organising Committee is delivering the two Championships on behalf of UK Athletics, the Greater London Authority and UK Sport, supported by Department for Culture Media and Sport, after both were awarded to London in 2011 and 2012. The stadium will host world class athletics as part of the legacy agreement secured by UK Athletics in 2011, for 50 years from 2016-2066.