§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what spectator capacity a stadium requires in order to meet the IAAF's specifications for a standard capable of hosting the World Athletics Championship. [7929]
§ Tessa JowellThe IAAF had previously advised UK Athletics that the stadium for the World Athletics Championships would need to be able to seat at least 43,000 spectators.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the accommodation requirements are for(a) athletes and (b) officials in a city in order to meet the IAAF's specifications for a standard capable of hosting the World Athletics Championship. [7944]
§ Tessa JowellThese are set out Appendix I of the IAAF guidelines for the IAAF World Athletics Championships. I have sent the hon. Gentleman a copy and placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what analysis her Department has made of Sheffield's transport facilities. [7927]
§ Tessa JowellMy Department has discussed transport issues relating to the 2005 World Championships with Sport England, Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield City Trust. Sheffield City Council has advised that the infrastructure surrounding the Don Valley Stadium already enables up to 50,000 people to attend concerts at the Stadium. If the IAAF accepts our proposal for Sheffield to stage the 2005 World Athletics Championships, detailed 815W work will be needed to assess what, if any, further transport improvements need to be made to facilitate the staging of the event.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when it became Government policy to support the staging of the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Sheffield. [7925]
§ Tessa JowellThe decision to support the staging of the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Sheffield was made on 4 October, after discussions with UK Athletics and Sport England.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions(a) ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had with the IAAF on the prospect of staging the 2005 World Athletics Championships. [7923]
§ Tessa JowellIt has been my priority to keep the IAAF fully informed at every stage about the review of the UK's arrangements for the 2005 World Athletics Championships. My Department has had the following contact with the IAAF since 7 June
2 July. I spoke to Istvan Gyulai, General Secretary of the IAAF by telephone to inform him that Sport England had commissioned Patrick Carter to review the Lee Valley project and to advise him that the Government were committed to staging the 2005 World Athletics Championships.6 August. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport met Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, and Istvan Gyulai at the World Athletics Championships in Edmonton.25 September. At my request, a senior DCMS official spoke to Istvan Gyulai to inform him that he Government were considering Patrick Carter's report and that we would advise him of the position as soon as the Government, Sport England and UK Athletics had reached a conclusion on staging the World Athletics Championships.4 October. Dave Moorcroft, Chief Executive of UK Athletics and I spoke to Lamine Diack and Istvan Gyulai by telephone to tell him of our decision that Lee Valley was not viable and to say that we wanted to suggest to the IAAF that the Championships be switched to Sheffield.5 October. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport and I met Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, Istvan Gyulai and Robert Stimpson, IAAF Treasurer. This meeting was also attended by David Hemrey and Dave Moorcroft from UK Athletics, Patrick Carter and by officials from DCMS and Sport England.