Green light for top athletics: The authorities have approved the ISTAF INDOOR in Berlin and the premiere of the ISTAF INDOOR in Düsseldorf. The meetings on Sunday, January 31st, 2021, at the ISS DOME in Düsseldorf and five days later on Friday, February 5th, 2021, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin can take place. Fans can cheer from home this time. Das Erste (Düsseldorf) and ZDF (Berlin) offer a live stream and show the highlights on TV.
Precondition for the approvals in both cities is a detailed hygiene concept, which was developed on the basis of the successfully implemented concept for the ISTAF 2020 and has now been extended and adapted to the current situation. The ISTAF organisers are supported by the Charité Berlin and the Ruhr-Uni Bochum as well as the Sportmetropole Berlin and the Sportstadt Düsseldorf. The concept provides, among other things, that no spectators may be present in the two large arenas and only “a minimum of the persons required for the sport” may be on site. All participants must undergo a Corona rapid test before entering the halls. Athletes are only allowed to arrive if they have a negative corona test that is not older than 48 hours. In addition, they are also tested upon arrival at the athletes’ hotel.
Meeting Director Martin Seeber: “Everyone’s health is our absolute priority. We are aware of our responsibility and are very happy that we can organize the meetings with the great support of the politicians and the relevant administrations in Berlin and Düsseldorf as well as our partners, even during this challenging time. Our goal is to set a mark for athletics with the ISTAF INDOOR in Berlin and five days earlier with the premiere of the ISTAF INDOOR in Düsseldorf, to give fans great sport and our athletes the opportunity to compete in the Olympic year at highest level and in the unique ISTAF-INDOOR atmosphere.”
At the ISTAF INDOOR in Berlin, pyrotechnics, music and lighting effects provide a spectacular setting for world-class athletes that encourage them to perform at their best. With over 12,000 spectators, the ISTAF INDOOR is the largest indoor meeting in the world. From this year forward, the ISTAF INDOOR will be held in Berlin and Düsseldorf.
Six exciting decisions are on the agenda (60 m M/F, 60 m hurdles M/F, long jump F, pole vault M).Das Erste (31.1., Düsseldorf) and ZDF (5.2., Berlin) each offer a live stream of the entire event and show the highlights in the context of winter sports coverage on TV. The “ISTAF INDOOR” series is also very popular internationally: highlights of the events will be shown in around 60 countries.
