Angelica Bengtsson on Qatar World Cup: "Easier to change if you see reality first"

IAAF's decision to allow Qatar to host the Athletics World Cup has been criticized, but President Sebastian Coe has defended the choice that "one can never separate politics and sports".

"Both things are part of life," he told SVT during the World Cup.

Swedish pole vaulter Angelica Bengtsson is also positive for her choice of World Cup organizer.

- IAAF agreed that they want to include so I think it's good in that way. The Arab countries are a large part of the world and then it is good to let us go there and show how free we are and at the same time see how they are doing, "Bengtsson tells SVT Sport and continues:

- Sport is very important in that way when you want to globalize and remove boundaries, so I think it was good and the competition itself is the best I've been to.

Do you still understand those who are critical?

- Yes I can. But I think it will be much easier to change if you first see what it is like, that you get to see reality first.

The number of spectators has also been mentioned during the World Cup. The stands have occasionally gaped empty and rumors say that the organizers attracted free tickets. But that is not the picture Bengtsson has of the World Cup.

- On qualifying there were more people in the crowd is what it usually is on a qualifying and at the finals it started quite sparsely but then there were a lot of people. And at the weekend it was full of smug every day, so it was good for the public, ”she says.

How was the World Cup in Qatar compared to your previous championship experience?

- Among the best. The officials were great, really. And the whole organization was great and they really thought about the athletes. It was also easy to follow the competitions and I have seen the TV shows and they are among the best TV shows I have seen. It was an amazing experience.