Press Release - Internationales Stadionfest (ISTAF) Berlin 2020 - 7/22/20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                     ISTAF IN BERLIN ON 13 SEPTEMBER

ISTAF 2020 with Armand Duplantis and 3,500 fans in Berlin's Olympic Stadium

Green light for Go and ISTAF 2020: the oldest athletics meeting in the 
world will take place as planned on Sunday, September 13. It will be one of 
the first sports events where spectators will be present despite measures 
in force because of the Coronavirus. Thanks to a detailed shielding and 
hygiene concept, the ISTAF organizers plan to have around 3,500 fans in 
Berlin's Olympic stadium. They, together with television viewers, will have 
the chance to admire the high fliers of athletics. The ISTAF is a World 
Athletics Continental Tour Meeting.

The Swedish world record holder for the pole vault, Armand "Mondo" 
Duplantis, has already confirmed his participation. Also confirmed is a 
local favourite Gesa Krause, who last year broke the world best for the 
women's 2,000m steeplechase in the stadium. Krause is the 3,000 m 
steeplechase bronze medallist from the World Championships last year.

The meeting director Martin Seeber explained: "Our aim is that ISTAF can 
set down a marker for the sport and be a beacon for athletics. Together 
with our partners we want to show that even in these difficult times we are 
there for the fans and athletes. Certainly it will be different with 3,500 
instead of the usual 45,000 spectators. But perhaps it can be a first small 
step back towards normality."

Details of these plans will be announced nearer the event. "We are 
delighted that with our comprehensive shielding and hygiene concept it will 
be possible for at least several thousand spectators to be present," added 
Martin Seeber. "At the core of our planning is the safety and health of 
everyone. We want to say a big thank you to everyone concerned, especially 
the medical services, the Senate Administration for the Interior and Sport, 
the respective health department and our partners, that they have shared 
the journey to this point and we now have the green light."

More information about the ISTAF is available at: www.istaf.de

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