Dubai event hit by low crowds

Organisers have defended staging the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai after the first two days played out in front of embarrassing three-figure crowds consisting of little more than team members and their families.

Tickets, which cost less than £5, are not available to buy online for an event supposed to represent the pinnacle of the sport, with sales taking place each day on the gate only. That has left the two small stands at the 2,000-capacity Dubai Club for People of Determination largely empty. More than 20 schools will be brought in to provide atmosphere next week.

It is a stark contrast to the last edition of the championships, which were held in London two years ago and saw 305,000 tickets sold. Hopes that the event might continue that upward curve were dashed by a lack of potential host cities for the 2019 championships and Dubai eventually stepped up.

British athlete Mickey Bushell was “disappointed” by the lack of crowds, while team-mate Sammi Kinghorn described it as a “backward step” after the success of London 2017. The outlook is brighter for the 2021 edition, with Japanese city Kobe beating Paris to host the event.

In a statement to The Daily Telegraph, World Para Athletics said: “The Dubai 2019 organising committee has put a great effort to host the World Championships in less than 18 months. World Para Athletics has worked in close contact with the organising committee to deliver the event and this is our focus.”

Kinghorn won Britain’s second medal of the championships last night, but had to relinquish her T53 100metre title to China’s Fang Gao, claiming bronze.