Doha offered $37M of new backing to track and field’s governing body "minutes before officials voted to make the Qatar city host of the 2019 world championships, raising questions about how the Gulf state uses finance to bargain for sports events," according to Alex Duff of BLOOMBERG. The proposal "was in documents" handed to the 27 execs of the Int'l Association of Athletics Federations before the Nov. 18 ballot. Brazilian IAAF Exec Roberto Gesta de Melo said that the group’s legal staff, after discussion, decided that "nothing prevented an increased offer just before voting." Doha "beat Eugene, Oregon, by 15-12 after the elimination of Barcelona." Spanish IAAF Exec Jose Maria Odriozola complained about the move, saying of Qatar, “All they have is money.” Doha’s promise at the IAAF vote in Monaco was to guarantee $30M in sponsorship over five years from an unidentified bank as well as $4.5M in merchandise sales and $2.5M "in media rights from Qatar-owned broadcaster beIN Sports." Qatar’s Dahlan Jumaan al Hamad said he “couldn’t say anything” about the pledge, although he added that Doha’s bid had not broken any regulations (BLOOMBERG, 11/25).
