MONACO, July 23- Kenyan stars preparing to face the world at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow from August 10-18 can look forward to performing in front of a capacity-packed arena.
The world governing body disclosed on Monday that ticket sales for the upcoming Worlds are accelerating fast with a sold out final weekend and an average of 80.59 percent sold for the nine days of competition at the Luzhniki Olympic Stadium.
IAAF General Secretary Essar Gabriel said today: “Looking at the latest ticket sales summary from our partners in the Moscow LOC confirms that Muscovites prefer to buy their tickets closer to the event.
“Since the beginning of July, thanks to enhanced promotional campaigns on television, radio, in the press, with billboards throughout the city and most recently, on the Moscow Metro (used by 9 million Russians per day), we have seen a real surge in ticket sales. With the competition not starting until the 10 August, the IAAF is very optimistic that the evening sessions can now be sold out.”
The 14th edition of the IAAF World Championships will be the largest global sporting event of 2013.
Nine days of competition which will witness 2000 athletes from over 200 nations compete in front of a cumulative audience of more than five billion TV viewers.
As already announced, broadcasting agreements are in place covering more territories than ever before in the history of the IAAF World Championships that will ensure coverage of Moscow 2013 in over 200 territories worldwide.
Kenya has a team of 49 athletes for the event where they are seeking to better their all time best return of seven gold, six silver and four bronze won at the last edition in Daegu, South Korea.
Ezekiel Kemboi (men 3000m steeple), Edna Kiplagat (women marathon) and Asbel Kiprop (men 1500m) will return to defend their crowns.
The country’s track and field team is in residential training at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani whilst the marathon squad is building up at Eldoret.
