2018 worlds set for Europe (again): Italy, Spain are lone bidders

What would Alice say about WMA choices for 2018 worlds?

What would Alice say about WMA choices for 2018?

Toronto is a no-show. Ditto for Cardiff, Wales. The only bidders for 2018 WMA outdoor worlds are the Italian Province of Venice (Carole-Jesolo-Eraclea) and Málaga, Spain — on the southern coast. That’s the word from WMA Secretary Winston Thomas. A year ago, I reported interest from Toronto, Cardiff and others. San Sebastian hosted 2005 worlds and Riccione had 2007, so one of those nations will repeat. (Perth, Australia, will host 2016 outdoor worlds.) So here we go again — left with Tweedledum and Tweedledee — both fine for Eurovets but again a hardship for the rest of the world. Since 2006, as my friend David Ortman notes, indoor or outdoor worlds have been held in Europe seven out of 10 times. The verdict on Spain vs. Italy will come at the Lyon General Assembly on Aug. 13. Who do you want to win?

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August 4, 2015

18 Responses

  1. David E. Ortman (M62), Seattle, WA - August 4, 2015

    To be more precise:

    2004 WMA Indoor – GERMANY
    2005 WMA OUTDOOR – SPAIN
    2006 WMA Indoor – AUSTRIA
    2007 WMA Outdoor – ITALY
    2008 WMA Indoor – FRANCE
    2009 WMA Outdoor FINLAND
    2010 WMA Indoor – Kamloops Canada
    2011 WMA Outdoor – Sacromento, CA
    2012 WMA Indoor – FINLAND
    2013 WMA Outdoor – Brazil
    2014 WMA Indoor – HUNGARY
    2015 WMA Outdoor – FRANCE
    now the switch to even-numbered Outdoor Championships (what happened to WMA Indoors between 2014 and 2017?)
    2016 WMA Outdoor – Australia
    2017 WMA Indoors – South Korea
    2018 WMA Outdoor ITALY/SPAIN

    Congrats to the Eurovets for keeping the WORLD Masters Athletics meets in their backyard.

  2. ventsi - August 5, 2015

    Italy had several other masters champ. except the above mentioned (WMACS 2007 Riccione).
    European Indoor – 2009 and 2016 (both in Ancona).
    EMG 2011 – Lignano, WMG 2013 – Torino 2013.
    Total 5 for Italy, vs. only 2 for Spain.

    Voters in Lyon next week will probably take that into account.

    Malaga logically has to win, but it is hot during summer, so the Champ. should take place in the autumn – i.e. late September, or early October.

    And don’t forget that Venice area is always potentially threatened by floods (there is always a risk in case of heavy rains). (note: the name should be Caorle, not Carole).

  3. sandylee - August 5, 2015

    Malaga sounds good, I can get a timeshare there, lol

  4. Mary Harada - August 5, 2015

    Flip a coin, either sounds good to me but I want to see what each is offering. I would like a meet in a place where all the venues are reasonably close together. Having to travel for an hour or more to various venues is not ideal.

  5. Milan Jamrich - August 5, 2015

    On the positive side we have two very good options. If we keep picking on Italy and Spain we might not have any in the future.

  6. David Sharp - August 5, 2015

    Congratulations to the Eurovets for keeping the WORLD Masters athletics meets running. (If no other countries want it in their own backyard!)

  7. MICHAEL DE JESUS - August 6, 2015

    SPAIN IS FINE WITH ME.

  8. Kathy Bergen - August 8, 2015

    Having been to the Spanish coast, I would bet the meet will be in Touromalinos ( spelling, questionable) which is like Coney Island with bad water. Malaga is a beautiful little seacoast town but I doubt they have the facilities nesssicary.

  9. Annie - August 9, 2015

    Regarding Malaga: it hosted the 2006 European Cup (elite athletics) and as Kathy noted sbove, there is another athletics venue in Torremolinos which is only about 10 km. down the road from the athletics stadium and sports precinct in Malaga.

  10. ventsi - August 9, 2015

    Here is a photo of the main (there are others as well) athletic stadium in Malaga –
    http://www.photaki.es/foto-estadio-de-atletismo-y-palacio-de-los-deportes-de-malaga_8477.htm .
    It seems it has 4 two-direction runways for horizontal jumps (i.e. 8 sand-pits) – fantastic for horizontal jumpers!

  11. Tom Phillips - August 9, 2015

    The Venice people are currently at the Lyon Worlds busy advertising the 2018 Championships as if it’s a done deal in their favour. Nothing at all on their stand to suggest the posters etc only relate to a bid.

    I know that part of the world quite well. No matter how much I might love the city of Venice, much of the surrounding province is a series of mosquito-ridden marshes, ugly factories and concrete towns. And if the 2018 Worlds are going to run from early September, hotels will be under great pressure. It’s still prime tourist time, and thousands who visit the city stay outside and travel in each day. I hope that WMA gives this bid proper scrutiny.

  12. tb - August 9, 2015

    Do the brochures say what they mean by ‘Venice’? I’ve found four tracks so far in what used to be the province, but the logistics would be difficult.

  13. P Oakes - August 10, 2015

    Don’t know either area well, but at least the Venice team have turned up at Lyon 2016 to promote their bid.

  14. Keith McQuitter - August 11, 2015

    when and where is worlds indoor 2016 .???

  15. Ken Stone - August 11, 2015

    No indoor worlds in 2016. Outdoors changed to even-numbered years to avoid conflict with World Masters Games.

  16. ventsi - August 11, 2015

    Ken is right.
    In 2016 there will be a worlds outdoor in Perth, Australia (October-November).
    The next worlds indoor is in March 2017 in Daegu, South Korea.
    http://daegu2017.or.kr/en/
    Wonderful facilities, as it can be seen on the website.

  17. Annie - August 13, 2015

    Malaga it is!! See y’all there.

  18. Parvaldnieks - November 6, 2016

    Malaga super! I’ll be there!

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