WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHLETICS
ISTANBUL TURKEY 2012

The IAAF announced on March 25, 2007 at an IAAF Council meeting that it had received bids from Turkey and Qatar to host the World Indoor championships in Athletics.

On November 25, 2007 at a Council meeting in Monaco, the IAAF announced that Istanbul will host the World Indoor championships in Athletics.

The events will take place at Sinan Erdem Dome, which has a seating capacity of 22,500.


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IAAF World Indoor Championships, Istanbul, Turkey: 9th - 11th March 2012


The Turkish city of Istanbul has been awarded the right to host the 2012 World Indoor Championships following the IAAF Council meeting.

Istanbul was in competition with Qatar's capital City, Doha, to host the Championships in 2010, however, following excellent presentations and a question and answer session with both candidates, the Council voted to award Doha the 2010 Championships and Istanbul the 2012 event.

After the announcement, IAAF President, Lamine Diack said,
"These were clearly two top class candidates demonstrating not only excellent facilities and organizational capabilities but outstanding levels of support from public authorities. I am glad the Council agreed that we should take this opportunity to ensure that the next two editions of the World Indoor Championships would help us in our aims to universalize our sport."

Istanbul is famous as the only city in the world that straddles two different continents (Europe and Asia), and as one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with a population of nearly 15 million, there should be plenty of supporters for the second most important event in World athletics. The World Indoors will take place in the Sinan Erdem Dome, which has a capacity of 17,500 seats, and is just 10 minutes away from the international airport.

Turkey's General Director of Youth and Sports, Mehmet Atalay, acknowledged the benefits that Turkey will reap from hosting this -event,
"The fact that Istanbul was named as the host of the 2012 athletics Championship is a big boost for Istanbul, which is also a candidate country for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games."

The Turkish delegation welcomed the IAAF's decision. European Athletics Council member, Salih Münir Yaras said,
"It's like one of our dreams coming true. This will give Istanbul a better chance for the 2020 Olympics, and construction of the championship facilities should be completed as soon as possible."


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