Big deficit endangers World Athletics Final in Stuttgart

Nov 10, 2006, 12:08 GMT

Stuttgart, Germany - The future of the season-ending World Athletics Final in Stuttgart is in jeopardy after the German organizers ran up a massive deficit from the first edition two months ago.

Organizers said on Friday that that the deficit of 655,000 euros (837,000) dollars was almost double than the expected loss of 350,000 euros.

Some 56,000 fans attended the meet September 9 and 10, but organizers said that the ruling body IAAF must help in the ticket sale area and in marketing as well to assure that the event takes place as planned in Stuttgart in 2007 and 2008.

'The world body can and must help us in the areas of marketing and TV rights. If that doesn't happen I see the event in danger,' said Andreas Kroll, managing director of local meet organisers in.Stuttgart.

IAAF vice president Helmut Digel told the local Stuttgarter Zeitung daily that the governing body wanted the event to stay in Stuttgart and that the financial matters were on the agenda at weekend IAAF meetings at its Monte Carlo headquarters.

The IAAF was delighted with the Stuttgart attendance two months ago after previous editions in Monte Carlo drew only sparse crowds.