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(Reuters) - Fans deprived of live athletics
action were treated to a mini pole vaulting competition on
Friday as German Torben Blech won the Flight Night event at a
drive-in cinema in Duesseldorf, Germany.
In the absence of world record holder Armand Duplantis, Blech
cleared 5.55 metres as pole vaulters competed in the first
sports event in front of spectators in Germany since the
COVID-19 outbreak.
Fans, abiding by social distancing rules, watched from their
cars, either live or on a giant screen as the night settled on
Duesseldorf's Autokino.
Some honked their support and showed patience as the event,
which featured mostly second-string pole vaulters, was suspended
for 20 minutes because of strong winds.
The event, sponsored by PSD Bank, helped raise money for a child
cancer association at the Duesseldorf's university hospital.
Athletic competitions resumed on Thursday, but with no
spectators, with the Oslo leg of the Diamond League.
Swede Duplantis, whose world record stands at 6.18m, won the
pole vaulting event by clearing 5.86m.
(Writing by Julien Pretot; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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