LOS ANGELES, Oct 15 AP - The International Association of Athletics Federation has reopened bidding for the 2006 World Cup after a dispute over taxes resulted in the sport’s governing body pulling the event from Los Angeles.
In working through the contract terms, we came to an impasse over the withholding of taxes out of the prize money,'' said Michael Roth, a spokesman for the Anschutz Entertainment Group that owns and operates the Home Depot Center in suburban Carson. The Home Depot Center, a 125-acre (50-hectare) sports complex on the campus of the California State University Dominguez Hills which also includes a 27,000-capacity soccer stadium that is home to the Los Angeles Galaxy, was awarded the IAAF's quadrennial team event two years ago in the hope of generating more interest in athletics in the United States. However, a contract was never signed. While the USA continues to be a conveyor belt for athlete talent, the IAAF has not held a major world championship event there since 1991,’’ IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said.
We thought that the World Cup - with its team-based format - was exactly the sort of track event that would appeal to the American public and help regenerate interest for major international track events in the states. It’s a shame, because the USA has so many fantastic athletes, but now they won’t get the chance to compete in front of a home crowd for Team USA.’’
The World Cup has never been staged in the United States, and USA Track and Field spokeswoman Jill Geer said today no other American city will bid for the 2006 event.
AP sj