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IAAF.org: Turkish Prime Minister flies to Paris to see Süreyya Ayhan

Turkey had never won any medal at the world athletics championships

2003-09-04

It was just 50 minutes before the scheduled start of the women’s 1500m final in the Stade de France when the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan flew into Paris. He was then driven to the stadium and watched Süreyya Ayhan’s race, in which she finished second.

The runner is Turkey’s number one sports person since she won the 1500 metres at the European Championships last year in Munich. And as Turkey had never won any medal at the world athletics championships nor in the Olympic athletics finals Erdogan decided on short notice that it was well worth to go. He himself was said to have played football, so he has an interest in sport.

For full article on iaaf.org - click here

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