By Duncan Mackay 

The International Association of Athletics Federations are hoping to make their events more attractive to potential host citesSeptember 30 - A review of how the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) market and promote their main events to potential host cities is to be carried out by TSE Consulting, it has been announced.


The Lausanne-based company, working alongside IAAF long-term partners AMS and Dentsu, will assist the world governing in redefining how to reach out to potential hosts and to increase the visibility of its bid processes.

This review will start immediately as the IAAF prepares to promote the bid process for the next round of events, the 2017 World Cross Country Championships, the 2017 World Youth Championships, the 2018 Continental Cup and the 2019 World Championships, which are due to launched at the beginning of next year.

"We at the IAAF are always looking for ways to improve the way athletics is showcased to the world, including its promotion to our future host cities," said Essar Gabriel, secretary general of the IAAF.

"As part of the IAAF's new strategic plan, we have launched a thorough review of our events and the way we connect these to host cities worldwide.

"We look forward to working more closely with host cities.

"This has started already with the launch of the first edition of the World Relay Championships in Nassau, Bahamas, in 2014."

The 2017 World Cross Country Championships is among the flagship events that the IAAF is looking to attract bidders forThe 2017 World Cross Country Championships is among the flagship events that the IAAF is looking to attract bidders for

TSE Consulting has worked with the IAAF since 2002, guiding them in the development and implementation of the IAAF Athletics' World Plan, the ten year mission to ensure that, at the time of the IAAF Centenary in 2012, athletics would continue to remain the number one sport for individuals.

"We are pleased to continue working with IAAF and to assist them in better connecting to our large network of ambitious host cities," said Greg Curchod, the director of TSE, who have worked with a number of other Olympic sports, including aquatics, archery and wrestling. 

"Athletics events bring great value and so we look forward to helping these events get the visibility they deserve."

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