Great Interest in the Preparations for the World Championships

Finland’s Foreign Minister, Ilkka Kanerva, showed a great interest in the preparations for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics berlin 2009™ during his visit to the German capital. On the second day of his visit to Berlin, Kanerva inspected the Olympic Stadium, together with the Finish Ambassador, René Nyberg. Heinrich Clausen, managing director of the BOC 2009, and stadium director, Peter von Löbbecke, briefed them on the status of the preparations for the largest sporting event of the year 2009.

The politician’s great interest in berlin 2009™ is not unfounded. The 59-year-old Foreign Minister was once a talented sprinter himself, is the honorary president of the Finish Athletics Association, and is vice-president of the Finish National Olympic Committee. Kanerva was the president of the organisational committee for the second to last World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki in 2005 and became a member of the IAAF Council, the ‘governing body’ of the worldwide association, five years ago.

Before he visited the legendary sports facilities, Ilkka Kanerva met with his German political counterparts. Both on a personal level and through his ministry, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is providing support for the organisation of berlin 2009™. Among other things, the international training facilities for the less financially strong disciplines are receiving support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prior to the Championships.