Atheltics Weekly

VIEW FROM THE STANDS
CHAIRMAN OF
THE BASC JOHN
STANDERLINE
SAYS THE WORLD
PARA CHAMPS
ACTED AS A GREAT
APPETISER FOR
THE IAAF WORLD
CHAMPS
ITTING in the
S
Olympic Stadium
(sorry but it will
always have that
name for me) for the World Para
Athletics Championships, I was
taken back to the London
Paralympics. That event five
years ago was a step change in
attendance for para athletics,
even allowing for the fact that
many people went just because
they wanted to visit the Olympic
Park, especially if they had
missed out on tickets for the
Olympics.
Since then para-athletics
events in the UK have either
had significantly less people
attending or a large part of the
crowd leave once the ablebodied
events finished. But
London 2017 has changed the
standard again and, while
attendance was lower than it
will be for the IAAF
Championships, one Saturday
evening at the London ‘Paras’
probably had more spectators
than saw the whole of the 2015
championships in Doha.
Having the Para Athletics
Championships in London in
the same location as the IAAF
Championships was always
going to be helpful, but letting
these athletes compete as
the first event – and not as an
afterthought – was a positive
idea.
London was praised by
athletes not just for the noise
when a GB athlete ran, but
the support and respect
WHAT A SUMMER!
shown to all athletes by the
knowledgeable crowd.
Not all athletics supporters
follow para-athletics. They see
difficulties with classification
and minimal competitors in
some categories. This is a pity
because genuine hard-fought
competition took place at these
championships, with every
para athlete being as keen to
succeed as their able-bodied
companions.
We looked in awe at the
javelin thrower throwing nearly
60m without a run up and at
the high jumper entering the
competition at the winning
height and then achieving three
world records.
Para-athletics needs large
crowds to help create publicity
to encourage youngsters to join
the sport. Consequently, if we
can offer more support then the
argument about events having
limited depth will disappear.
Who could fail to enjoy the
hard men of para-athletics, the
T54 wheelchair racers? With
Extraordinary athleticism: the
World Para Athletics Champs
were amazing to watch
seven men finishing the 5000m
within a few metres of each
other the finish was closer than
similar able-bodied events and
watching it was like seeing a
car race. And the female T54
races were no less impressive,
with Tatyaya McFadden the
outstanding star.
Around 20,000 school
children in the stadium on a
couple of occasions was great
to see (or more precisely to
hear). Strangely, the Monday
kids were very noisy while
those on Tuesday were more
controlled at track event starts.
Introducing so many children
to the sport we love was great
but why did more schools not
take up the offer to attend?
There was lots of space
available.
A small grumble would be
to question why the materials
provided to schools did not
explain the different athletics
events and the different
categories, or did not explain
the etiquette of being at
MARK SHEARMAN
athletics events (for example,
quiet at track starts, clapping if
field athletes request it).
The World Para Athletics
Championships were summed
up by one BASC member
who wrote: “I am very much
enjoying watching it. Such a
lot of great achievements and
sportsmanship, with added
drama on some occasions. A
great inspiration to any young
disabled person.”
Although I think the
inspiration was for any sports
person, not just disabled
athletes.
Now the IAAF World
Championships are upon us. I
am looking forward to just being
in the stadium and hearing the
roar of the sold-out sessions.
I expect it to re-create the
atmosphere of the London
Olympics with the added
sentimental runs of Mo Farah
and Usain Bolt appearing in
their last championships. Aside
from these headlines, I think we
are in a period of change and
it will be fascinating to see new
talent coming to the fore.
The British Athletics Supporters
Club is the official body for
track and field fans in the UK.
Members receive priority and
discounted tickets or travel
packages for meetings at
home and abroad, plus its own
magazine, Backtrack, which
is published three times a
year. To find out how to join,
see basclub.org.uk or follow on
Twitter @BASCsupporters and
facebook.com/britathleticsclub
5 6 A T H L E T I C S W E E K L Y