London 2017 World Athletics

The IPC World Para Athletics Championships begin a week on Friday on C4, with the IAAF Champs following shortly after on the BBC.

Anyone know who is fronting the C4 coverage. I'm assuming it isn't Clare Balding due to the clash with Wimbledon and Euro 2017.

According to the Radio Times the coverage is being presented by Ade Adepitan, Sophie Morgan and Lee McKenzie. With commentary by John Rawling, Rob Walker, Katharine Merry, David Weir & Danny Crates.

I don't know why they always go with Ade Adepitan who in my opinion is their weakest link when JJ Chalmers and Arthur Williams both seem better presenters. Clare Balding or Clarence is as you say is unavailable as she is hosting Euro 2017 for Channel 4

Agree - not sold on Ade at all. JJ and Sophie were a good combination at the Paralympics IIRC.

Because he ticks two boxes with the diversity police? Non-white and disabled?

True. Not a great presenter - in fact his best tv work was in one of the BBC One rhythm and movement idents all those years ago...

He's fine on the Travel Show on BBC News, probably one of those presenters best suited to recorded rather than live television.

You do realise that Ade is a basketball player? So proper presenting wasn't necessarily what I was looking for here.

Seems C4 are using two of Ade, Sophie and Arthur each night with Arthur and Sophie hosting tonight, while Lee trackside each night. Also looks like they're using the same graphics package as for the F1 coverage, so be interesting to see if that's used for the football as well.

Must say this has really been a showcase of Lee McKenzies talents. Don't follow F1 so not seen much of her other than reporting at Wimbledon or the odd shift on BBC3/4 at the Olympics but really rated her this week, though it really helps that shes had pundits with her who've been really good value.

P.S. Wonder if the BBC will do anything special with the theme or just use the fairly non-distinct generic athletics intro.

She is excellent. In 2013 when Jake Humphrey left the BBC that Lee McKenzie should have been the main presenter rather than Suzi Perry, nothing against Suzi but I always thought Lee McKenzie was excellent on F1 and I also thought Channel 4 may of snapped her up as anchor when the rights transferred. However you can see how highly the BBC and Channel 4 rate her however as she has been involved on the their coverage of other sports such as Olympics, Rugby, Wimbledon, Paralympics, Women's Football etc.

Details now on the BBC press site about their plans. Gabby Logan the main host for both daytime and evening sessions, with Ore Oduba joining her for a review of the day on BBC2 at 10pm. Coverage generally split between BBC1 and BBC2 most noghts except Tue and Wed when they're on BBC2 only.

Not overly impressed with the intro to the World Athletics - basically stylised archive clips over a mixture of music with nothing too defining about it. First Steps did get an outing though immediately after the titles.

Yes they should have used First Steps or something better for the titles but what did slightly amuse me at the start when Gabby was talking over first steps stating as we've seen on the BBC since 1983 this has given us some great moments and some great champions apart from 2011 when it was live on Channel 4 of course although I think Otis Daley may be having some nightmares still about that.