Could we bid to host this, seeing as we will have the stadium ready for it in 2022? We would get much better crowds than this.
On the Dec and Hep;- the difference in the official event disciplines is indeed a historical one; when the first official formulations were made it was decided that, as women at the time did not compete in Pole Vault and Discus Throw, they were not advised to do them in the Combined Events. And because they were women it was decided that fewer and less taxing events (substituting the 800m for the 1500m that the men do, missing out the 100m sprint completely) would be sensible. It was the prevailing view of the time. We know better now.- there is a Dec for women which exactly matches the mens but it is not official. In the US it is available far more widely than elsewhere, colleges and States run championships but not nationally or internationally. I hope that changes soon.- No-one will let you know why the equalising rules changes have not yet been made even when Pole Vault has been a sport for women for 20+ years etc but my own view is that the current Hep balance of disciplines favours sprinter/jumper athlete types and disadvantages strength-based or throwing athletes and the history the US and UK have achieved in international events (because they produce sprinter/jumpers) compared to Eastern European or African and Caribbean athletes (who have traditionally produced jumper/thrower types more often) means that the US and UK try to keep it at 7 with the current balance. Just my own view. I hope it changes soon because it's embarrasing to retain this anacronism from a more ignorant era.- the Dec is, to my mind, the most enthralling competition in international athletics. The balance of speed, strength, technique and flexibility needs to be constantly maintained so that no one discipline falters and destroys the overall achievement. This is shown by one-discipline experts doing a Dec; Lavillenie did a few and scored monster points in Pole Vault but not enough to compensate for Jav, Disc and Shot performances below par. With a mix of 3 throws, 3 jumps and 4 trach disciplines you need to perform in all to win, not just 9. - the points system is done by discipline and each disciplines points are reset every few years based upon the actual world achievents within each event so, for example, if someone breaks the world record in Javelin or world performances advance across a broad front, the same performance in Javelin from one year to the enxt will earn fewer points in the Dec because the standard has been inched upwards. - Daley Thompson was my athletic sporting hero.
I think she’s heading for a gold. To throw a PB in one of her weaker events is fantastic.
GOLD!