Usain Bolt's 100m world record of 9.58 seconds time "will be reflected in the price of some children's tickets at next year's IAAF World Championships in London, organizers said on Tuesday," according to Martyn Herman of REUTERS. Announcing its "world record" ticket prices and the race schedule for the Olympic Stadium event from Aug. 4-13, London 2017 execs said that children's tickets for some sessions will be available for £9.58 ($13.80). Others will cost £12.91 ($18.59), £18.29 ($26.34) and £52.74 ($75.96) -- "reflecting world records set at previous world championships" by Britons Colin Jackson (110m hurdles), Jonathan Edwards (triple jump) and Sally Gunnell (400m hurdles). London 2017 Managing Dir Cherry Alexander said that ticket prices had been set to ensure "full venues with passionate crowds" and that more than 250,000 tickets, a third of the total, would cost £35 ($50.41) or less. Alexander: "We want prices to be accessible to the athletics family, all sports fans and new spectators; and we wanted the timetable to allow as many people as possible to attend the biggest sporting event since London 2012." Organizers said that more evening and weekend sessions "would make it easier for the public to attend." A statement said, "Most sessions during the IAAF World Championships include a final and where possible, medal ceremonies have been scheduled together to enhance spectator experience" (REUTERS, 4/19). In London, Ben Rumsby reported children will also be able to attend the World ParaAthletics Championships in July for as little as £5 ($7.20), with a total of 1.5 million tickets being made available across both events. London 2017 organizers "are hoping next year’s championships will herald a fresh start for a sport beset by doping and corruption scandals and plagued by empty seats" during the recent editions of its "blue-riband event." IAAF President Sebastian Coe said, "2,000 athletes from over 200 nations will gather next summer for the IAAF World Championships London 2017, which will be the biggest global championships of any sport next year. Today’s launch of tickets sales with an innovative timetable and accessible prices offers everyone a great opportunity to witness the world’s best athletes live in action" (TELEGRAPH, 4/18). The BBC reported Bolt said, "I always say that the children are the future. I commend the organizers of London 2017 on this initiative to give young people the chance to buy affordable tickets" (BBC, 4/19).
