‘No comment’. That was the most striking quote at the press conference this Thursday. British captain Josh Kerr simply waved away the question from a Norwegian reporter, whether he regrets the absence of Jakob Ingebrigtsen at this tournament. With one day to go until the start of the 18th edition of the World Athletics Indoor Championships, the Emirates Arena in Glasgow looks ready for a big show. However, the athletes still seem focused and calm.
ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE Grant Holloway built some moments of laughter in the arena, which was slowly built further before the warm-up. Devynne Charlton told the press her recent world record was ‘just normal for me’. Fortunately, Kerr was also looking forward to the first World Indoors in ‘his’ Scotland. “Although I grew up in Edinburgh, I raced in Glasgow probably 50 or 60 times. This place is going to be absolutely electric. The Emirates Arena has an amazing balance between getting enough people in here and delivering a small stadium where you feel everybody is on top of you.”
The feeling of being on top of the athletes, or maybe hanging on the lips of the potential superstars, is also the experience of the young journalists following the Media Development Program by World Athletics and AIPS. Commentary masterclass by British commentator Rob Walker and the guided tour around the arena while hundreds of operators were setting the last details, were probably the two most interesting parts of this program. And now we all feel ready to cover and watch some good show over the weekend.
THE MAIN ATTRACTION Among the 651 athletes from 133 countries, Mondo Duplantis could be the main attraction. The Swedish pole vault freak is the competitor with probably the most potential to break a world record. His own 6.23 meters from Eugene last year was impressive, but his accurate attempts from recent indoor competitions are even more imposing. Other global champions who are trying to improve there own world records in Glasgow are also Ryan Crouser (shot put), Karsten Warholm (400 m), Grant Holloway (60 m hurdles) and Femke Bol (400 m), who looks like the most peaceful of the athletes. “Of course the big goal this year is the Olympics. However, it is always great to race and get new experiences of tournaments.”
Eventually, take a look on top of the medal table of the past eight World Indoor Championships. In seven of them the United States took most of the glory. Last edition, in 2022 in Belgrade, the Ethiopians impressed the most. This weekend it is again America vs Africa, with an outsider role for Europe.
Credit: AIPS Media
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