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Hi, Rusty!
Yes, Jon Ridgeon - who incidentally looks much the same facially ( albeit a tad older! ) as he did when hurdling - is the CEO of the IAAF.
Apparently, one of the things he told Gabby was that the diplomatic blockade of Qatar, by some of its neighbours, is the reason why there were so few ticket sales at the World Championships.
He also praised the stadium excellence, and said that "they" would learn from their mistakes.......
I didn't see the Michael Johnson incident?
It looks like Paddy P knows more than the BBC about the Women's 1500m race?
I couldn't find the date and time of the 1500m Final when I looked....maybe I was just being "blind"......
Do you know when it is?
Is Laura doubling up with any other distance?

Hello, Elle!
I think Ridgeon is talking hooey, just like his president, Coe.
Do these people think our heads are zipped up the back?
The reason the athletics are at Doha is because enormous sums of money changed hands.
And the reason the grandstands are empty (except when the Ethiopians are running) is because the Qataris are not interested in athletics.
This is what Michael said to Gabby,

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10031405/michael-johnson-sebastian-coe-full-of-s/

The 1500 for women is on Saturday at 18.55 (I've it written in my diary!)
Paddy makes a book on the runners in the race now, but that is no guarantee they will run.

Hi, Rusty!
Oh dear, poor Michael....I wonder will there be repercussions about that?
I hope not......he was only saying what most of us think!
Did you listen to Denise Lewis speaking, in the next clip?
I had heard her say that, earlier.
Btw, did you see the influx of children "imported" into the stadium this afternoon?
There must have been about sixty of them...
Goodness knows from where they came!
The commentator remarked that at least they helped to fill the stands!
"Heads zipped up the back", Rusty?
Is that another one for my little black book?
I have never heard that before?
Thank you for the info on Laura's race... yes, I've found it now on my programme.
I "couldn't see for looking" as the expression goes.
What a pity the 1500m Final isn't until Saturday.
I shall miss it!

Hello, Elle!
I agree, Michael was right, and Gabby could not keep the smile off her face!
I have heard Denise say that several times since the start of the championships.
She is really annoyed about the empty grandstands.
I read they may bus children in to try and fill up the stadium, but I did not see it.
Sorry, "head zipped/buttoned up the back" is maybe only a saying North of the border?
Is there not a television in your holiday accommodation?

There are a couple of scathing articles in today's Guardian about the "Doha disaster", one in the news, the other in the sports section.

It is suggested that the selection of Eugene, Canada, for the next one is even more suspect. It's the home town of Nike, who had Seb Coe under contract until he became President of the IAAF four years ago, and apparently he was very reluctant to give up the contract even then.

Qatar has been diplomatically isolated from almost all of its neighbours. This has meant that nobody from surrounding countries can get to the venue. This, therefore, excludes the millions of expatriates from a host of different countries of origin who might/would have attended, had they been allowed. The isolation only started in 2017, so couldn’t have been factored in when the IAAF gave the ‘contract’ to Doha.
Secondly, aren’t children sometimes given free entry to sporting events in this country?

Apparently (according to the Guardian stories) the majority of "spectators" are either press, or migrant workers who have been given free tickets and bussed in.

Good morning, Rusty!
A fine start to the day here...but rain now "hovering" !
Thunderstorms are forecast for midday.
Yes, Denise is good at saying what she thinks!
I like Denise!
Was there anything in the Times this morning about yesterday's interview with Jon Ridgeon?
And Michael's overheard comment?
These are the articles in the Guardian to which I think Chris was referring
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/28/world-athletics-championships-doha
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/sep/30/doha-empty-seats-iaaf-sellout-world-athletics-championships
I wonder whether there will be further shipments of children to help fill the Stadium today.......



Hello, Chris!
Thank you
I have looked up the relevant articles on line....
Yes, I think everyone interested in Athletics knows about Seb Coe and Nike!


Hello, Kenyatta.
Yes, Jon Ridgeon referred to the diplomatic blockade in his interview with Gabby Logan yesterday.
I mentioned it in my post yesterday - see 29371

Elle,
I wasn’t aware that your post was supposed to be the last word on the subject.
I was merely expanding on one aspect of the interview.

Pardon, Kenyatta?
I was merely underlining what you had said, by drawing attention to the fact that Jon Ridgeon , CEO of the IAAF, had said much the same thing as you in his interview on television yesterday.