IAAF wants talks with Stuttgart over World Athletics Final deficit

Nov 12, 2006, 14:40 GMT

Monte Carlo - Athletics ruling body IAAF is to hold talks with the organizers of the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart over debts incurred from the season-ending event two months ago.

Organizers have said that that the deficit of 650,000 euros (835,000) dollars was almost double the expected loss of 350,000 euros, putting the event's future in jeopardy.

IAAF vice president Helmut Digel told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa in Monte Carlo Sunday that the federation would be holding talks with the Stuttgart organizers, probably on December 15.

'If we make an effort we will find solutions,' he said.

However federation officials have been irritated by the decision by the Stuttgart organizers to go public on the deficit without informing the IAAF first.

'We are surprised that this problem has been aired in the media first and that the IAAF was not informed beforehand in writing,' said Digel.

IAAF president Lamine Diack said: 'I will wait until the report from Stuttgart arrives. But there is a contract which runs until 2009 which has to be adhered to.'

Digel said a deficit of some 650,000 euros was relatively small in view of the huge market value of the event. The final had 'best television ratings, considerably better than world athletics finals before,' he said.

Organizers said Friday some 56,000 fans attended the meet September 9 and 10, but that the IAAF must help in ticket sales and marketing to ensure 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 the meet organisers in.Stuttgart.