Hersh and the rest of the IAAF Evaluation Commission were taken to the Al Sadd Stadium where the technology has already been installed and where FIFA were also taken last year during Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

"It's hot," Hersh said.

"We all know that the heat is an obvious concern here in Doha in the month of September when the Championship is proposed to be held.

"What the Qataris showed us is the possibly of air conditioning an open stadium.

"We were out there this morning and saw actual demonstration of that.

"It's developing the technology but you could see the potential and that air conditioning an outdoor stadium can be done."

Hersh gave Doha's chances of beating its only rival London another boost when he claimed that the World Championships had often been held in hot conditions without controversy, highlighting Seville in 1997 and Osaka in 2007 as examples of successful events where the weather had not hampered performances.

"We have had athletes competing in warm weather and it is something that athletes deal with," Hersh said.

"It is certainly not a deal breaker [for Doha].

"The fact we have World Championships in warm weather in the summer months almost inevitably means in certain places it will be warm." 

Under Doha's proposals, the Championships will be held between September 9 and 17, the latest the event has ever taken place.

But the optimism of the Qatari capital has visibly grown following this visit from the IAAF Evaluation Commission.

"We are confident, very confident with our bid file," said Sheik Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the secretary general of the Qatar Olympic Committee.

"We are not only confident in our bid file but confident that we can take the World Championship to the next level.

"We are promising to do one of the best World Championships and that we can remove any barriers in terms of heat."

Hersh even unwittingly echoed Doha's bid slogan of "the perfect partners" when he praised their organisation of the World Indoor Championships here last year.

 
"As organisational delegate for the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, I have personally experienced how well the Qataris can organise a major athletics event," said Hersh, who earlier had been invited to open the fifth Qatar School Olympic Games at a special ceremony. 

"They were perfect partners then, and a pleasure to work with.

"Doha is a city that has shown fantastic growth and development, and I've been impressed by how that growth has continued since my most recent visit here last year.  

"There is no doubt that the Doha team are extremely motivated and dedicated to making a very strong bid, where innovation and new ideas take centre stage.

"For example, we heard that as part of the refurbishment plans for the Khalifa Stadium, not only will there be a sophisticated air conditioning system in place to ensure comfortable  temperatures for the athletes and spectators, but also a giant 100-metre panoramic screen that will allow fans to enjoy the action in a new way.  

"We also appreciate the significance of the Bid Committee's vision that the World Championships can provide an opportunity to continue the development of athletics in new regions worldwide."

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