Get excited: More than one million applications for London 2017 tickets
More than one million tickets have been applied for to the upcoming London 2017 world track and field championships.
More than one million ticket applications have been submitted for the 2017 world championships in London.
All-time great Usain Bolt is expected to retire after the 2017 championships. The 30-year-old won three golds, including victories in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, for the third consecutive Olympics in Rio. Mo Farah is expected to make his final track appearances in 2017 as he moves to the roads.
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Among the tickets sold so far are more than 70,000 going to kids thanks to Bolt’s £9.58 themed-prices. The price, symbolizing Bolt’s world record time in the 100m, is for kids under 16 providing them an affordable opportunity to watch the world’s fastest athletes compete next summer.
“It’s fantastic to see that organizers of next summer’s IAAF World Championships in London have been able to sell so many tickets a year ahead of the championships,” Bolt said. “The fact that 70,000 children will be coming to watch next summer, for my £9.58 world record ticket price, is something I’m hugely proud of.”
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According to the governing body for international athletics, 1,047,000 tickets have been applied for by fans from 92 countries. There are only 700,000 available spots for the championships meaning that most, if not all, sessions are likely to be sold out come August 2017. Capacity for each session is about 50,000 and more than 200,000 tickets applied for to see the men’s 100m final.
London 2017 is likely to be the last showdown between Canadian Andre De Grasse and the Jamaican great. De Grasse, Canada’s top sprinter, won bronze in the 100m and silver in the 200m at the recent Olympics in Rio.
Over 1 million @London2017 tickets applied for in Aug. Next summer is hot already ?? Details https://t.co/YxsGh22vKJ pic.twitter.com/ltk4TI5AXk
— London 2017 (@London2017) September 2, 2016
Other Canadians expected to contend for a medal include defending women’s 800m bronze medallist Melissa Bishop, who finished fourth at the Rio Olympics. The last edition of the world championships was in Beijing and the global event is held on two-year cycles.
Canada won an impressive eight medals at the 2015 world championships including two gold, three bronze and three bronze.
The window to apply for tickets was Aug. 1-29. Fortunately, those who were unsuccessful in their initial application bid have the chance to reapply for tickets in mid-September. Details can be found at www.london2017athletics.com.
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The London 2017 world championships will take place Aug. 4-13 at the Olympic stadium, the site of the athletics portion of the London 2012 Games.
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