THE decision to hold the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was as controversial as the IAAF’s award of its World Championships to Doha. One consequence was the need for the event to take place in November when temperatures were more reasonable. The event featured 1359 athletes from about 120 nations. These included Russia, which is not banned from para sport. A record total of 528 women competed, while the host country had 17 athletes, one of whom won three medals.
The event took place in the Dubai Club for People of Determination. In the UAE, people with special needs or disabilities are referred to as ‘people of determination’ in recognition of their achievements in different fields. The 2000-seater stadium was largely empty with tickets not on sale online and with no evidence of marketing of the event. This was my fourth IPC World Championships and the most underwhelming. With ticket sales of 300,000, London 2017 was always going to be a hard act to follow but Dubai did seem a step backward for disability sport.
The event was saved by the large number of athletes attending sessions and creating noise and atmosphere. At times, though, one felt for an athlete winning a gold medal and setting a world record in an empty stadium, then walking through an empty mixed zone with no journalists there to interview the athlete in their career highlight moment.
Doha 2019 was criticised for its lack of souvenirs. Dubai had outdoor cafes and merchandise and brica-brac stalls. One was playing music and running competitions throughout the evening, offering spectators the chance to win prizes.
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