Speaking at the conclusion of the two-day International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Evaluation Commission inspection, Qatar Athletics Federation President Dahlan Al-Hamad revealed the marathon course has already been tested and approved for use.

The race will consist of 10 laps of 4.2 kilometres and will take place along fully floodlit roads to ensure that the athletes have full visibility and that television cameras will be able to record the action.

It goes dark here soon after 5pm in October here, meaning the gruelling 26.2 mile race could be held at any point from this time onwards, where temperatures will be cooler than the highs of 35 degrees possible earlier in the day.

This marks a different approach from the one to be adopted at the Doha 2015 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships next October, where the marathon events will be held in London in April during the London Marathon rather than with the rest of the competition.

The proposed timing for Doha's 2019 bid, which would ensure an athletics season lasting a month longer than normal, has already been accepted by the IAAF Evaluation Commission, the group's chairman Sebastian Coe revealed.

Coe and Al Hamad, along with IAAF general secretary Essar Gabriel and Qatar Olympic Committee secretary general Sheikh Saoud Abdulrahman al-Thani, were speaking following a busy second day of inspections here, which followed earlier visits to rivals Barcelona and Eugene. 


The International Association of Athletics Federations Evaluation Commission pose at the Qatar National Convention Centre on the second day of their inspection visit ©Doha 2019



This included  a tour of the renowned Qatar National Convention Centre, a state-of-art-venue billed as one of the leading conference facilities in the world, which would host the biennial IAAF Congress before the World Championships.

Coe, an IAAF vice-president who orchestrated the London bid that edged Doha in the race for the 2017 World Championships three years, dismissed the notion that the Qatari capital's latest bid would be affected by the recent corruption allegations surrounding the way the country allegedly won the race to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

"We came here to make a judgement about the worthiness of the city to stage a track and field Championships, so our focus has been entirely of this city and the other two cities to deliver this Championships," Coe said.

"We haven't spent, and nor should we spend, any time worrying about other sports and other situations."

The former London 2012 chairman praised each of the three cities for bidding and emphasised how the chosen winner will be "the one in position to present the sport in the best possible light".

Based on the evaluation of 16 unspecified themes, as well as site visits and technical assessments, he cited a clear vision "how to deliver the Games" as well as innovative methods embracing young people, as key.

"We are looking for a city that understands why it wants to host those Games," he said.

"And listening to the athletes [Mutaz Barshim and Mariam Farid] today, it was very clear what they think these Games can do for athletics - not just in Qatar but in this region.‎"

IAAF Evaluation Commission chairman Sebastian Coe praised Doha's bid to host the 2019 World Championships and the wider benefits it potentially offers the region ©Doha 2019



Political stability was also cited as important by Coe, despite the current turbulent situation in much of the Middle East, along with embracing the local community, communicating well, and taking advantage of emerging technologies.

Coe added that the three "very different" cities had all submitted "very different" bids and that each has the opportunity over the next week to provide further information and to answer supplementary questions from the IAAF.

A final decision on which city will host the Championships is then due to be taken by the IAAF Council at its meeting in Monaco on November 18 following presentations from all three and a report by Coe. 

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