Preparations are well under way for our tour to the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. Our German hosts have been very coopeative and helpful, and that makes our job in providing you with the best possible travel experience that much easier.

The track venue is the renovated and historic 1936 Olympic stadium---surely one of the world’s most attractive and very best venues for track & field. The convenient subway system will make our access to the stadium quick and easy.

There are two benefits to using the U- or S-Bahn: 1) tour members can go and come as they please; they don’t have to conform to predetermined bus schedules; and 2) the tour cost can be kept reasonable, since hiring buses for nine days can be an expensive proposition.

The mix of modern and traditional architecture, the fine and varied restaurant fare, the museums and monuments---if you’re so inclined, you’ll find something fascinating, informative and/or entertaining to do in Berlin every day.

THE COMPETITION SCHEDULE

There will be nine straight days of competition as in recent versions of the World Championships from August 15 through 23. The schedule includes 5 morning sessions, which run from 10 am until approximately 1 pm, evening sessions are scheduled from 6:00 pm until 9:45 pm.

In contrast to most previous World Championships, the marathons and walks will start and finish at the Brandenburg Gate, rather than in the stadium. The loop courses have been designed to show off Berlin’s attractions and make the events accessible to the public.

TICKETS

The tour package includes tickets to all of the track and field sessions. Our seat locations, for the most part, will be on the backstretch opposite the finish line.

HOTELS

We have two great city center hotels lined up. The 5-star Hilton on Gendarmenmarkt Square and the 4-star Maritim ProArte on Friedrichstrasse. We may also obtain a 3-star option to add to our offerings. Both the Hilton and the Martim are located in the city’s historical and cultural center (Berlin-Mitte) in what was once East Berlin. They are within walking distance of many of Berlin’s main attractions including the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden boulevard, Friedrichsstrasse, Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag (parliament building), Museum Island (five state museums, including the Pergamon, on an island in the Spree river), along with a wealth of shops and restaurants. The hotels are both on subway lines with direct routes (no changes) to the stadium.

WHAT THE TOUR INCLUDES

The basic tour dates are arrival on August 13 and departure on August 24. It’s an 11-night tour with the following tentative itinerary:

August 13: arrive Berlin, Thursday
August 14: half day city tour, evening welcome reception
August 15 - 23: track and field competition (nine evening sessions, 5 morning sessions).
Date TBD: gala luncheon with invited guests and athletes (to be held on a day with no morning track competition)
August 24: depart Berlin, Monday

The tour will include:
• 11-nights hotel accommodation in Berlin (breakfast included)
• Prime tickets to all sessions
• Gala tour party with invited athletes and coaches
• Half-day city tour of Berlin
• Optional day trip to Potsdam
• Daily newsletter prepared by the Track & Field News editorial staff
• Airport transfers
• Tour accessories and literature

Not included: transAtlantic air or meals, other then the gala tour luncheon.

EXTENSION TOURS

We are working on some great Pre and Post extension tour options. Tentative itineraries include:

Tour A: Prague, Vienna, Budapest
Motorcoach tour: 3 days in Prague, 3 days in Vienna, 3 days in Budapest. Fly home from Budapest.

Tour B: Zürich, Lausanne, Heidelberg, Nuremberg.
Trip to include the famed Weltklasse meet in Zürich and the IOC Museum in Lausanne. The Zürich meet is annually the best invitational on the planet and in World Championships years it is traditionaly the first meet after the WC and rematches the very best of the best on one unforgettable night of track!

TOUR PRICE

We are awaiting 2009 hotel and ticket pricing. At this time we expect our tour prices will be similar to the prices we had for Helsinki and Osaka, ranging from $3500 to $4200 per person, double occupancy depending on your class of hotel, but like everyone else we’re at the mercy of exchange rates, and the Euro has been pounding the U.S. dollar as of late.

TO SIGN UP

Current deposit, $500 per person. Send to Track & Field News, 2570 El Camino Real, Suite 606, Mountain View, CA 94040. Or phone (650/948-8188) or fax (650/948-9445) and charge to M/C, Visa or Amex.