Numerous other figures, data, and facts illustrate the extraordinary format of Weltklasse Zürich:
Approx. 15 million TV viewers on all continents will watch the competitions on Thursday night. In addition, SRF2 will provide a live stream of the men’s pole vault event at Zurich Main Station (starting 6.25pm, no geo-blocking) so that viewers anywhere in the world can be part of the extraordinary show. 530 000 viewers, an audience share of 29 per cent, watched the SRF2 coverage last year. This year, fans will be provided with additional background reports, on TV, as well as on Facebook (@weltklassezuerich) and on Instagram (@weltklassezurich). Live videos featuring 110m h legend Colin Jackson and long jump star Alexandra Wester will offer some rare glances behind the scenes of Weltklasse Zürich.
Overall, around 300 media representatives from all over the world will be present in Zurich. 2500 VIP guests will attend, and athletes, coaches, athletes’ representative and staff generate 1500 overnight stays. Approx. 600 volunteers ensure smooth operations. More than 30 sponsors and partners support Weltklasse Zürich. And as every year since the inauguration of the new arena in 2007, all seats at Letzigrund Stadium are sold out.
UBS Kids Cup a crowd puller
More and more stadium visitors attend Weltklasse Zürich with their families, partly because more kids than ever are discovering athletics at a UBS Kids Cup event. Over the course of the past 12 months, 170 000 participants have tested their running, jumping, and throwing talent. Many of them decided to join a club after their first competition.
The championship approach of the IAAF Diamond League has made its meetings popular among athletes and fans, especially as the new format, which was introduced in 2017, ensures that media coverage includes the entire series.
Local heroes competing with the world’s top stars
One of the highlights of this year’s edition of Weltklasse Zürich will no doubt be the women’s 400m h race featuring Switzerland’s newly crowned European champion Lea Sprunger. She will be lining up against a field of outstanding hurdlers. And the scenario in the women’s 100m looks equally exciting: Triple European champion Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) and Marie-Josée Ta Lou (IVC), double world championship silver medallist will take centre stage, both have run 10.85 this year. Close on their heels, however, will be 200m world champion Dafne Schippers (NED) and Mujinga Kambundji, the first Swiss sprinter to run a sub 11-seconds race.
Another treat will be the women’s pole vault competition with Olympic, world, and European champion Katerina Stefanidi (GRE). Once again, world indoor champion and world leader Sandi Morris (USA, 4.95) will challenge her. In the men’s 1500m, two Kenyan athletes will try to keep their opponents at bay: world championship silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot, world leader with a season’s best of 3:28.41, and world champion Elijah Motonei Manangoi (SB 3:29.64).
Jakob Ingebrigtsen one of many up-and-coming stars
The phenomenal 17-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), who took gold both in the 1500m and in the 5000m at the European athletics championships in Berlin, one of the sports many up-and-coming stars, will challenge Cheruiyot and Manangoi. In the men’s 200m, world leader Noah Lyles (USA, SB 19.65) will give it his all to pick up another Diamond Trophy after his first triumph last year. World and European champion Ramil Guliyev (Türkei) will not simply throw in his hand, however. The noise level during the 200m will definitely reach record heights again, as European championship bronze medallist, national record holder, and crowd favourite Alex Wilson will be lining up against the two.
“Magic Moments” to celebrate 90 years of Weltklasse Zürich
The very first edition of Weltklasse Zürich was held 90 years ago. Zurich promoters have decided to revive fond memories of the meeting’s glorious history in a series of videos showing world records, heart-stopping races, as well as extraordinary figures and performances. “Weltklasse Zürich Magic Moments” will take fans on a walk down memory lane and will recall some of the most magic moments: the first 100m run in 10.0, for instance, Yelena Isinbayeva’s world record, or Mo Farah’s tight win in his very last track race.
