Astana, Kazakhstan finally welcomed the first meet of the awaited 2024 World Athletics Indoor Tour on the 27th of January. Marking an important beginning to the long schedule ahead, the Astana meet has seen the presence of the best of the athletics names. A list inclusive of Andre deGrasse and Nia Ali, who will be making an important return to their careers. However, with the meet’s launch, things don’t seem to sit right with the fans.

While Andre deGrasse and Nia Ali will be making their comebacks at the Indoor Championships, the meet will also host the likes of Mondo Duplantis and Megan Tapper among others. The presence of the notable names has the athletics fans on their toes. But come the streaming question, enthusiasts have found an obstacle on their path.

A notable return for Andre deGrasse and Nia Ali

Ahead of the meet on the 27th, one of the fans took to X to express their happiness over Andre De Grasse’s health and return to the sport. However, with the meeting’s precedence, the enthusiast was met with streaming issues, specifically geoblock. “So instead of streaming the Athletics on YouTube, @WorldAthletics are making people sign up to their side hustle platform… Gatekeeping a Sport that’s already on fragile legs is mental,” they wrote.

The six-time Olympic medalist, De Grasse, is set to make his indoor appearance for the first time since 2021. Moreover, the champion only recently got back on track following a 2-year-long rough patch. Alongside him, for his partner, mother of three, and 2X World Indoor champion in the 60m hurdles, Nia Ali, the meet will mark the season debut.

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For the Olympian who races to erase the misconceptions surrounding motherhood and professional athletics, the meet will prove important. And when fans await to watch these anticipated returns and more, World Athletics’ mismanagement has stood as a hurdle.

Athletics fans express disappointment

In an early announcement by World Athletics, the live streaming was made available for enthusiasts in several territories via the organization’s website. The omission of nations from the list did not sit right with the awaiting fans. “Says the livestream is now geoblocked in the UK (it wasn’t on the list yesterday)”, one of the fans expressed.

In reply to the post, a fan expressed the ripple effect no-streaming would cause. “- they can’t watch it” the sentence concluded.

Another one of the fans responded in frustration over the features and decisions.

Continuing along, a fan called out World Athletics over the mismanagement, informing that the UK was geoblocked 5-minutes to the livestream. “@WorldAthletics care to explain…” they added.

When more arrived with similar complaints, one of the enthusiasts called it a joke, suggesting an alternative practice.

Geoblock by World Athletics or not, the Kazakhstan Athletics will now be offering a live streaming on their YouTube channel.

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