Iaaf World Indoor Championships in Instanbul,Turkey!

[Cam9412]

I know this is to eary to talk about this but I can't wait until the indoor season. I hope want to see Sally Pearson, VCB, Shelly-Ann, Asafa Powell and others run indoors next year.

[Flumpy]

This would of course be great but I don't see it happening. It's Olympic year and the WI's are going to be nobody's priority.

I'm still booking my trip next week as soon as I get home from Daegu.

[Powell]

I'm definitely going. Priority or not, this is my very favorite city in the world, and any excuse for visiting it is good

And the other good news is that it looks like the next edition is going to be in Poland

[Powell]

Does anyone know when the tickets will be put for sale? There's very little info on the website so far.

[mojo]

My daughter's bf is from Turkey and I really want to go there some day.

What is it about Instanbul that makes it your fav city Powell?

Wonder what the weather is like in March.

[Powell]

What is it about Instanbul that makes it your fav city Powell?

I could make a list of things I love about it, like the amazing location, great history and historical monuments, the bazaars, the nightlife in the streets, the Bosphorus ferries, freshly squeezed pomegranate juice from street stalls, grilled fish sandwiches, and friendly stray cats (and that's just a start), but that probably won't mean much to you until you actually experience it. You can check out my gallery on FB for starters

Wonder what the weather is like in March.

Could still be pretty cold. Winters start and end later in Istanbul than they do where I live, so first half of March is more winter than spring. Not the ideal time to visit, but it's a great city regardless of the season.
According to a weather site I consulted, the average temperature on the dates of the WIC is roughly: max during the day 11C, min during the night 4C.

[mojo]

You make me want to even more. BF is from Ankara and is more than willing to help us organize a trip.

Won't go in March though.

Limited travel funds means careful planning and good weather would be nice!
You guys will have fun as usual.

[GDAWG]

I'd expect Paul Sunderland and another announcer (but not Ato Boldon or Dwight Stones, but probably Jill Montgomery) to do the event for Universal Sports.

[Flumpy]

Won't go in March though.

Limited travel funds means careful planning and good weather would be nice!
You guys will have fun as usual.

Mojo stop being sensible.

You have to come. Remortgage the house. Sell a child.

It will be worth it

[mojo]

Won't go in March though.

Limited travel funds means careful planning and good weather would be nice!
You guys will have fun as usual.

Mojo stop being sensible.

You have to come. Remortgage the house. Sell a child.

It will be worth it

I am definitely too responsible.

The girl who never got drunk or stayed out past curfew and always handed her homework in on time.

But I am a hell of a lot of fun otherwise right?

[Powell]

I just received some info on the tickets. They will be available from 10 October, and the good news is they're really cheap - 60 TL for a 3-day package (roughly USD 34 as of today). The bad news is there are no seats available to spectators on the side of the finishing straight. Here's the configuration of the arena:
http://istanbul2012wic.org/salon.pdf
I don't think I've ever seen such a large proportion of the seating being set aside for official functions

[nevetsllim]

I just received some info on the tickets. They will be available from 10 October, and the good news is they're really cheap - 60 TL for a 3-day package (roughly USD 34 as of today). The bad news is there are no seats available to spectators on the side of the finishing straight. Here's the configuration of the arena:
http://istanbul2012wic.org/salon.pdf
I don't think I've ever seen such a large proportion of the seating being set aside for official functions

I think Valencia was the same. I actually had good seats on the back-stretch so it didn't matter but all of the home-stretch was reserved.

Considering I'll be in my last month at university in March, I'll probably won't make it but I might go depending on who's competing.

[Flumpy]

Valencia was fine as I remember it (Actually I don't remember it at all but that leads me to assume I had no complaint).

Turin on the other hand was f**king awful. No seats the finish line side at all

[dl]

I've always thought directly across from the finish line (i.e. 1500 start at a 400m venue), a bit up from the track, is the best seat in the house.

[GDAWG]

This article states that Sally Pearson might be there:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6137004786

"Maybe she'll run there (in Turkey) or she may not run there. She may run the 60m sprint there or the 60m hurdles. Or both. Or neither.''

[gh]

.... grilled fish sandwiches, and friendly stray cats ...

you might want to check a little more closely on this connection..

[Powell]

you might want to check a little more closely on this connection..

There isn't one, trust me.

But they did enjoy a Starbucks brownie:

[Powell]

I've always thought directly across from the finish line (i.e. 1500 start at a 400m venue), a bit up from the track, is the best seat in the house.

I'm not saying all seats on the back straight side are bad, but it's ridiculous that 50% of the seating is unavailable to paying fans. Does this happen in any other sport?

[Alan Shank]

I just received some info on the tickets. They will be available from 10 October, and the good news is they're really cheap - 60 TL for a 3-day package (roughly USD 34 as of today). The bad news is there are no seats available to spectators on the side of the finishing straight. Here's the configuration of the arena:
http://istanbul2012wic.org/salon.pdf
I don't think I've ever seen such a large proportion of the seating being set aside for official functions

Go for section 114, more than half way up, if you are more of a track buff; if you're more into the field events, 115 might be better.

It is a real drag, however, that so many of the seats are reserved for stuffed shirts that won't even be watching what's going on.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

[Powell]

The bad news is there are no seats available to spectators on the side of the finishing straight. Here's the configuration of the arena:
http://istanbul2012wic.org/salon.pdf

Go for section 114, more than half way up, if you are more of a track buff; if you're more into the field events, 115 might be better.

The tickets are now available, but for some reason, the web site will only let you choose between sections 109, 113, 116 and 122

[mump boy]

I bought 113, i was going to email and try and get others but indoors you can generally see everything. I'm actually more excited about going to Istanbul than seeing the track

[richh1948]

I agree with Powell here. It really is a wonderful city. I've only spent 3 days there, but a week would probably not have been enough. We particularly enjoyed going on a boat trip on the Bosphorus, with Dolphins accompanying us from Istanbul's harbour.

[Powell]

I bought 113

Did you get a confirmation of you seat numbers? And can you select a specific seat, or are you just assigned one at random? I'm just wondering if 113 really means 113 only, or if it's just a general indication of the area (like anywhere between 112 and 114).
I'm hesitating between 113 (more in line with the finish line) and 116 (closer to the middle and thus with better overall view of the stadium including field events). 109 and 122 are both crap for watching the action.

I'm actually more excited about going to Istanbul than seeing the track

So am I, and I've been there something like a dozen times already The WIC are just a pretext to go again. I'm actually arriving in Turkey early and going to the eastern part of the country for a few days before the championships.

[mump boy]

I've got specific tickets, row seat etc

tickets are really cheap and i don't think it will be full (it may be as half the seats aren't available) so we can always move or buy new ones in a better area if need be

[Jon]

I'd love to go, but my wife has very selfishly decided that she's going to give birth to our firstborn at the start of February, and apparently it's not acceptable for me to go galavanting across the world, leaving her behind with a four-week-old baby. I can't believe how unfair and inconsiderate she's being...

[mump boy]

I'd love to go, but my wife has very selfishly decided that she's going to give birth to our firstborn at the start of February, and apparently it's not acceptable for me to go galavanting across the world, leaving her behind with a four-week-old baby. I can't believe how unfair and inconsiderate she's being...

How rude, couldn't she put off the birth till 2nd week of March

[richh1948]

Just to be difficult, she probably will put it off

[Jon]

How rude, couldn't she put off the birth till 2nd week of March

That is a very good idea. By that stage I'm sure she'd have grown quite attached to the bump and so she probably won't mind holding on to it a bit longer.

Just to be difficult, she probably will put it off

Tell me about it!

[mojo]

How rude, couldn't she put off the birth till 2nd week of March

That is a very good idea. By that stage I'm sure she'd have grown quite attached to the bump and so she probably won't mind holding on to it a bit longer.

Just to be difficult, she probably will put it off

Tell me about it!

You have no idea how much life is going to change young Jon.

And I don't just mean nappies.

[mump boy]

JOn have you thought of names how bout Merlene for a girl and Roman for a boy

i'm sure Nicola won't mind

[Jon]

Nicola was actually quite keen on "Mo" and "Andreas", but that's as far as she went with athlete names. The name we have in mind if it's a boy is also the name of a current WR-holder. There's one mediocre/non-famous athlete who shares the name we have in mind for a girl, but I'm saying no more...

[tandfman]

I agree with Powell here. It really is a wonderful city.

I've never been there, but I'm looking forward to seeing it in March. I'm hoping to be able to extend the trip before or after the meet for at least a few days and do some serious sight-seeing.

[mojo]

Nicola was actually quite keen on "Mo" and "Andreas", but that's as far as she went with athlete names. The name we have in mind if it's a boy is also the name of a current WR-holder. There's one mediocre/non-famous athlete who shares the name we have in mind for a girl, but I'm saying no more...

Mojo! Brillant name.

But you are having a boy....so sayeth the great mojo-I am right 50% of the time.

[Powell]

Nicola was actually quite keen on "Mo" and "Andreas", but that's as far as she went with athlete names. The name we have in mind if it's a boy is also the name of a current WR-holder.

You're naming him Kenenisa?

[Flumpy]

There's one mediocre/non-famous athlete who shares the name we have in mind for a girl, but I'm saying no more...

It's 'Petra' isn't it