Berlin's Mercedes-Benz Arena to Host Star-Studded ISTAF INDOOR Athletics Event

BERLIN - The excitement builds as the ISTAF INDOOR event is set to captivate audiences at Berlin's Mercedes-Benz Arena this Friday, February 23. An anticipated crowd of 12,000 fans is gearing up to witness the largest indoor athletics meeting globally. The event promises an evening brimming with thrilling moments, featuring popular athletes, intense rivalries, and rapid debuts, culminating in the extraordinary discus challenge. Tickets are still up for grabs via phone at 030 30 111 86 30 or online through www.tickets.istaf.de, with the event reaching viewers in over 80 countries.

For numerous athletes, the ISTAF INDOOR serves as a crucial warm-up for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, slated for March 1-3, 2024. Yet, for many elite competitors, Berlin marks the conclusion of their indoor season, paving the way for rigorous preparations for the upcoming European Championships in Rome and the Olympic Games in Paris. Among them is the celebrated long jumper Malaika Mihambo, fresh from securing victory at the German Indoor Championships with a leap of 6.93 meters. Mihambo is optimistic about leveraging the event as a springboard for her summer season, backed by the enthusiastic support of the attendees. She attributes her exceptional indoor performances, notably her personal best of 7.07 meters at this venue in 2020, to the unparalleled energy of the ISTAF INDOOR crowd.

The program features eight dynamic events (60 meters for men and women, 60 meters Paralympics for men, 60 meters hurdles for both genders, women's long jump, men's pole vault, and the mixed-gender discus duel), attracting top talents like European Indoor Champion Samuele Ceccarelli, Olympic hurdler Omar McLeod, and sprinting stars Zaynab Dosso, Daryll Neita, and Britany Anderson. The men's hurdles will spotlight Daniel Roberts, a World Championship bronze medalist, among the fastest. In the pole vault, Ernest John Obiena aims to replicate his previous success, buoyed by his recent victory and consistent performance.

The event also shines a light on Germany's finest, including seven national champions and world-class Paralympic sprinters Johannes Floors and Maxcel Amo Manu, marking their debut at this prestigious gathering.

The discus duel, a highlight of the event, pits men against women in a unique competition format, featuring World Champion Kristjan Čeh and Olympic medalist Kristin Pudenz. Čeh, a towering figure in discus with impressive achievements and records, is keen to make his mark indoors, eyeing his coach Gerd Kanter's unofficial world record as a challenge to surpass in Berlin.