Brazil, Malaysia bid for 2013 WMA world championships
Doug Smith of Ontario reports: “News from the WMA…. Affiliates are hereby notified that when the deadline for Bids for the 2013 WMA Stadia and the 2012 Indoors Championships closed on 1st September 2008, all that had been received were letters of intention to bid from Porto Alegre (BRA) and Kuala Lumpur (MAL), both in respect of the WMA 2013 Stadia Championships. No interest has as yet been shown in the 2012 Indoors Championships.” Only one problem: WMA doesn’t like the bids — and has moved the deadline back to November 30.
The news also was posted on WMA’s Web site, with these additional comments:
Unfortunately also the mere delivery of letters of intention to bid does not satisfy the minimum requirements for the submission of bids, this despite us having notified these two prospective bidders of the minimum requirements.
In the circumstances your Council has decided, in fairness to these and other prospective bidders, that the deadline of 1st September 2008 will now be extended to 30th November 2008, so as to allow them all the opportunity to comply with the minimum bid requirements. In making this decision, Council has undertaken to be proactive and to assist prospective bidders in the completion and timely submission of their bid packages.
Affiliates are therefore kindly requested to take note of this information and to refer to me or to Stan Perkins all or any requests for assistance in the preparation and timely submission of bids for any one or other of these Championships before the expiry of this extended deadline of 30th November 2008. In addition affiliates are encouraged to take steps to locate suitable bidders and to refer them to me (Monty Hacker apparently) and to Stan.
In the interim our assistance will be tendered to both Porto Alegre and Kuala Lumpur.
Doug further notes:
Porto Allegre Brazil lost the bid for the 2011 Championships to Sacramento at the General Assembly in Riccione last year. Sacramento blew them away with the number of state-of-the-art tracks that they has in the city — within easy reach of the transit system. Kuala Lumpur has bid numerous times in the past. In fact, they won the bid one year, but, subsequently, the WMA Council found there were some improprieties and awarded the Championships to the runner-up (Puerto Rico). . . . Odd that none of the European Indoor facilities are interested in the Indoor Championships (?). The 2013 Championships are selected at the WMA General Assembly next year in Lahti.
My take:
Without Cesare Beccalli’s backing, the Porto Alegre bid may be doomed.
Without Torsten Carlius to block it, Kuala Lumpur may be a shoo-in.
When KL was awarded worlds by the 1999 Gateshead General Assembly, the KL folks promised to underwrite expenses of 100 athletes from poor countries. Let’s see what they pony up this time. And what were the reasons for the bids being deemed insufficient? Maybe they didn’t send checks for $150,000.
8 Responses
WMA has nothing, Ken. Just two letters of interest, no official bids. The official bidding process has been extended to November 30, 2008. Kuala Lumpur a shoo-in? I’m not as sure as you seem to be. After all, they won the bid in 1999 but the world championships were held in Puerto Rico. The Malaysian official in charge had disappeared without a trace. Also, they were concerns about the security situation even back in 1999. Shockingly dressed women athletes in a predominant Muslim country was the topic, right? What was a minor problem (terrorism) in Malaysia in 1999 is a real problem today. After all, Jemaah Islamiyah is a force today. And Malaysia’s president told the world that the occupation of Irak and the Palestinian-Israel conflict are the true causes of international terrorism, including the increased activities in his own country.
“No interest has as yet been shown in the 2012 Indoors Championships” according to the official website of WMA. Now, everybody is counting on a European country to bail them out. I don’t know, but maybe we should stop bickering about less than perfect conditions at host cities and speak up only when we have grave concerns.
I agree with Stefan about the not so sure it is a shoo in for Malaysia – many problems there before leading to asking Puerto Rico to come in with short notice for 2003.
Also- all the b and m about the track in Kamloops being flat. Get real folks – we are fortunate to have a bid from a place who will put on a good meet. I cannot think of any place in the US that will bid for an indoor WMA meet. What is needed is not just a large indoor facility – but also jumps, throw facilities etc – indoor and outdoor and a place for an 8 k x-c race and a half-marathon- not to mention – people willing to spend a couple of years coming up with a bid and then putting it together, getting sponsorship etc. The European Indoor meets have been held in cities with substantial public investment in indoor track facilities. They have not been universities and there are few non-university indoor tracks in the US that would be suitable. Either there will be a bid from a European city – or there will not be an indoor WMA after 2010.
Kuala Lumpur’s problem is infighting in the Malaysian association. I compete there often. The country is completely safe and they put on well-run events (though the weather is tropical all year). The problem is that their various athletics leaders have trouble getting along. The most recent example was when IAAF racewalking judge Khoo Chong Beng from Malaysia ran for WMA vice president, non-stadia at the San Sebastian general assembly. It was the MALAYSIAN delegation that objected and got his candidacy declared invalid on a technicality.
Quick Silver
Hong Kong
Well, I asked some questions regarding the missing interest of the Europeans in the 2012 Indoor World Championships. Clearly, the problems of the last World Championships (San Sebastian, Riccione, Clermont-Ferrand) left a very bad aftertaste in the mouth of all decision makers within the European Masters community. Most problems were due to the troubles of the Local Organizing Committees and the lack of communication between WMA and the LOCs.
By the way, the Europeans read this blog very carefully. After all, it is the only place where they can get American feedback regarding their work. “Piss on the Europeans. Fcuk the French” and similar statements on this blog are being registered and have a very negative impact. And big mouthed WMA honchos, who boss around LOCs, make last minute changes and push aside well meaning members of EVACS & USATF etc. do not help either. I’ve been told by major decision makers in Europe that their interest in stepping forward is almost ZERO and will remain so for a long time.
On the other hand, the recent European Masters Games and the European Championships were wonderfully organized events and restored the European athletes’ faith in international competition (as long as competently organized by Europeans for Europeans and not WMA incompetents).
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