Russia's athletics stars back London's 2017 World Championships bid | 03.11.2011

European Athlete of the Year Mariya Savinova of Russia has been unveiled as one of the ambassadors for London's bid for the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

Three of Russia’s top athletes of the current generation have been unveiled as ambassadors for London’s bid to host the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

The 2011 European Athlete of the Year Mariya Savinova and her compatriot Tatyana Chernova, who won gold medals over 800m and in the heptathlon at this summer's World Championships, as well as high jumper Aleksey Dmitrik, who took a silver medal in Daegu, are the latest athletes to voice their support for London.

Other famous athletes backing London’s bid include international stars Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Fabiana Murer and Jesse Williams as well as local heroes Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis.

“I have had great experiences competing and winning in London. As an athlete, I want to compete in a stadium packed full of a cheering crowd and London always delivers that electrifying atmosphere. I am already looking forward to next year’s Olympic Games and it would be amazing to be able to return to compete in the Olympic stadium in 2017,” said Savinova, who also won the European title over two laps of the track in 2010.

Chernova will also work alongside former British heptathlete and 2000 Olympic Games gold medallist Denise Lewis on the London 2017 Athlete Commission.

The Athlete Commission, chaired by Lewis, is a key part of London’s bid as it enables athletes to offer their insight and provide input to the bid presentation.

“I am a strong supporter of London’s bid for the 2017 World Championships for many reasons. For me, competing over two days means that conditions are very important for performance and London offers an ideal climate in August. Winning a gold medal at this year’s World Championships was unbelievable and with fans like those in London, who appreciate a great performance from athletes from all over the world, the World Championships could be so special in 2017. I know that London is the athlete’s choice – they are great hosts of athletics events so I give my full support to their bid,” commented Chernova.

“Winning a silver medal this year was the best moment in my career and I think that it’s important to host the World Championships in a city that has great athletics tradition and really cares about the sport like London does. Everyone is really excited about competing in the brand new Olympic Stadium next year and London in 2017 would give our sport’s big European fan base a chance to see the World Championships there and experience a wonderful global city,” added Dmitrik.

Ed Warner , Chairman of UK Athletics, welcomed the latest ambassadorial additions.

“The continued support for London 2017 from some of the world’s greatest athletes is fantastic. The addition of Tatyana, Mariya and Aleksey to the line-up of London 2017 ambassadors demonstrates that London is the athletes’ choice,” said Warner.

“Russia is of course the next host of the IAAF World Championships and should we win the bid to host London 2017, we will look to draw upon the experiences of these athletes as well as our colleagues in the Local Organising Committee there,” he added.