Doha offered up Sudan's Abubaker Kaki Khamis, the world 800 metres silver medallist, but were eclipsed by London, who put forward America's Edwin Moses (pictured), one of athletics' best known names who once went unbeaten for 122 consecutive races in the 400m hurdles.

Moses joins a team of international ambassadors that already includes Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopia's double Olympic 10, 000 metres champions. 

Moses, the recipient of the 2012 Global UNESCO Award for social change for good with the power of sport, won gold at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics and first competed in England in 1978. 

"I first ran in London more than 30 years ago and every time I'm here I am always impressed by the fans," said Moses.

"There is a great culture of the sport in this country and the spectators really respect athletics and the athletes.

"A World Athletics Championships in London would also see so many fans travelling to the Championships from Europe which would provide an unrivalled atmosphere."

Kaki (pictured), 22, is one of the most promising middle-distance runners in the world who has special memories of Doha, having retained his world indoor 800m title there last year.

He joins a roster of athletes that already includes Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown, the Olympic and world 200m champion, and Yelena Isinbayeva, Russia's two-time Olympic pole vault champion and world record holder.

"It is with great enthusiasm that I support the Doha 2017 bid," said Kaki.

"A World Championships in Doha will be a big step forward in taking athletics to other new regions around the world.

"If Doha is chosen there will be so many youth worldwide who in the future will be able to realise a dream that previously would never have been possible." 

Even for those trying to see if there are any omens in the ambassadors chosen by the respective cities there are few clues ahead of the vote by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council in Monte Carlo on November 11.

Gebrselassie backed London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics while Isinbayeva was a member of the Russian delegation that were awarded the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]
 

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