The IPC claims that the switch has been made to better suit the racing schedules of the leading marathon racers and is not related to the fact temperatures can reach as high as 35 degrees in Qatar, even in October when the Championships are due to take place. 

Up to 12 different medal events will now take place in the British capital during the 2015 London Marathon on April 26.

"Following the success of the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup in London for the last two years, we are delighted that the British capital will stage the IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships next year," said head of IPC Athletics, Ryan Montgomery.

"London has a superb track record for staging top-class marathon events, as demonstrated each year and during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

"We are very excited about staging this event in the city in 2015.

"In addition to world titles being up for grabs, the races next year will have added impetus as they will act as qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and for some sport classes be the last opportunity to secure their place in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games."

Despite being named as host of the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships, Doha will not stage the wheelchair marathon events ©AFP/Getty Images



Next year's IPC Athletics World Championships are due take place at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha from October 22 to 31.

The Championships in Qatar had originally been scheduled to take place from November 19 to 28 next year - when temperatures can still reach 29 degrees - but it was announced last month that they were being brought forward by four weeks.

This was due to "infrastructure improvements" elated to ongoing works in Doha as Qatar prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it was claimed.

The IPC said it wanted to avoid any inconvenience and disruption these works may cause to the 1,300 athletes from 90 countries that are expected to attend the 10-day event.

The last marathon world titles were awarded in July 2013 as part of the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France.

Among the winners in Lyon were Swiss duo Marcel Hug and Manuela Schaer in the T53/54 category, while there were also wins for Chile's Cristian Valenzuela in the men's T11, Morocco's El Amin Chentouf in the men's T12 and Italy's Alessandro di Lello in the men's T46 class.

Competitors will compete across T11/T12, T13, T42/43/44, T45/46, T51/52 and T53/54 in both men's and women's events in London next year.

Each country can enter a maximum of six athletes into each event and each athlete must have made the minimum qualification standard or have been allocated a direct invitation.

Swiss "Silver Bullet" Marcel Hug will defend his marathon world championship crown in London next year ©AFP/Getty Images



Commenting on the news, Virgin London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher said: "The London Marathon has a proud history of inclusivity; we see it as a vital part of our organisational aims to continue to promote and empower the world of Paralympic sport over the coming years.

"The 2012 London Paralympic Games showed the massive British public support for Paralympic sport.

"We are very pleased to continue working with the IPC to develop and raise the profile of the para-athletes in all categories.

"We would like London to continue to be centre stage in developing the sport of elite marathon running within all categories, and look forward to welcoming back the world's top Para-athletes to London in April 2015."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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