World Para Athletics Championships organisers have defended staging the competition in Dubai after the first two days played out in front of embarrassingly low three-figure crowds consisting of little more than team members and their families.
Tickets, which cost less than £5, are not available to buy anywhere 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 2000-seater Dubai Club for People of Determination largely empty. More than 20 schools will be brought in to provide some 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 – more than the combined total for all eight previous editions.
Hopes the event might continue that upward curve were dashed by a lack of potential host cities for the 2019 championships and Dubai eventually stepped in at late notice last year.
The outlook is brighter for the 2021 edition, with Japanese city Kobe beating Paris to host the event.
“World Para Athletics has worked in close contact with the organising committee to deliver the event and this is our focus at this moment.
“Kobe 2021 will certainly benefit from having more time to prepare for the World Championships.”
Reigning T53 100m champion Kinghorn won Britain’s second medal of the championships on Friday night but had to relinquish her title to China’s Fang Gao, claiming bronze after a summer that saw her miss seven weeks recovering from an operation.
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