MILAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- With Beijing set to host the World Athletics Championships for a second time in 2027, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe expressed confidence that the city can deliver a full-stadium event, in an interview with Xinhua during the ongoing Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Coe, a former president of the London 2012 organizing committee, said he has a special bond with China, noting that his World Athletics presidency began in Beijing in 2015 and will finish in Beijing in 2027.
"I was at Beijing's National Stadium in 2008 for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics, and obviously for the track and field," Coe recalled. "Beijing came four years before London, so we worked very closely with the Beijing organizing committee, and they helped us to understand the complexity of delivering the Games."
Coe said he was impressed with the organization of the 2015 World Athletics Championships at the National Stadium, known as the "Bird's Nest."
"It was a fabulous venue. Operationally, it works extremely well. What is also comforting is from the volunteers in Beijing," he said.
For the 2027 championships, Coe said his expectations are high.
"My expectation is high because every time we stage one of our events in China, whether it was the World Indoor Championships or the World Relays, went extremely well. It's a very important market for us," the 69-year-old said.
"The most important expectation is we must have a full stadium," Coe emphasized. "This is a point that I've made to all our recent world championship cities. We achieved in London, Budapest, and certainly in large parts of Tokyo."
He added, "We are not a marginal sport, but the No. 1 Olympic sport. When we have an opportunity to showcase to the world, my expectation is based entirely on the athletes competing in front of a full stadium."
Coe said his confidence also comes from growing public participation. "More people are now running than ever before regularly in China. It's a really important trend for us. Athletics is a very strong and powerful sport," he said.
"The championships in Beijing will be very well delivered and showcased in one of the world's most iconic venues," Coe remarked. ■
