The Championships were originally scheduled to take place at the 15,000-seater Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium from November 19 to 28 next year, but the date has been changed and they will now be held from October 22 to 31.

A spokesman for the IPC would not be drawn on the exact details of what the "infrastructure improvements" are, but hinted that the change of date is related to ongoing works in Doha as Qatar prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The IPC says it wants 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 Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium is home to the Qatar Sports Club, whose football team play in the Qatar Stars League.

It was used as a venue for the 2011 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup and its eight lane Mondo track annually hosts the first International Association of Athletics Federations Diamond League meeting of the year.

Infrastructure improvements in Doha has led the IPC to change the date of next year's IPC Athletics World Championships ©AFP/Getty Images



Qatar controversially won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010, but its bid has been dogged by rumours of corruption and vote rigging.

In March, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy was forced to implement a new Workers' Welfare Standards charter after fierce criticism from international organisations on the welfare of migrant workers helping to construct the stadiums and infrastructure needed ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

Classification for the 2015 IPC Athletics Championships is due to take place between October 18 and 21 next year.

As revealed by insidethegames in 2012, Doha had put in a joint bid for the 2015 and 2017 IPC Athletics World Championships, but the 2017 edition was awarded to London, leaving the Qatari capital as the sole bidder for 2015.

Last year's Championships were held in Lyon, France.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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