Berlin’s hopes raised for winning 2009 athletics

13 September 2004

BERLIN – After the success of the final Golden League meeting in Berlin, at which triple jumper Christian Olsson and 400m runner Tonique Williams-Darling split the million dollar jackpot, the city is now hoping to get the nod for the 2009 world championships.

The German vice-president of the international athletics federation (IAAF), Helmut Digel, said Monday he was confident that Berlin would host the world championships.

“The Golden League meeting was an excellent recommendation for the hosting of the worlds. I think that Berlin will get the go-ahead. Those who know the facts will agree that it has to be Berlin.

Sweden’s Olsson and Williams-Darling from Bahamas on Sunday shared the million dollar jackpot, which goes to athletes who win their events at all six Golden League meets.

Olsson won the triple-jump with a jump of 17,45m, while Williams- Darling set up a new national record in a time of 49,07 seconds – a world seasons best.

Both athletes said they would have no problem spending the money. “I will have no problem. I want to support my family and then fulfil a few of my own dreams,” Williams-Darling said.

The athlete from the Bahamas, who had already won the gold medal in Athens over the same distance, said that the race had been very difficult. “The race dictated the time. We pushed each other,” she said of world champion Ana Guevera, who was second-placed. “The race was harder than Athens.”

Olsson, who had secured his share of the jackpot before the women’s 400m race, admitted he had been thinking of the money. “I nearly thought too much of the money, but I am not greedy and am more than happy with half a million dollars.”

Both athletes however, will have to compete at the weekend’s World Athletics Final in Monaco to collect their money.

DPA

Subject: German news