The International Athletics Federation (IAF) has given Istanbul Ataturk Olympic Stadium the honour of being a “First Class Athletics Stadium”.
Istanbul Olympic Games Preparation and Organization Board issued a statement Tuesday, saying that the IAAF’s recognition of Ataturk Stadium increases the power of Turkey’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Ataturk Stadium has a seating capacity of 80,000 and is the largest of Turkey’s stadia. The stadium has previously been named as a five-star stadium by the UEFA Stadium and Security Committee.
