Sergey Bubka Launches IAAF Presidency Manifesto Pledging Review of Athletics
April 8, 2015
Sergey Bubka has promised to hold a review of the world of athletics as he launched his manifesto for the presidency of the International Association of Athletics Federations this week.
The Ukrainian Olympic Committee president set out his plans should he be elected in August including the issue of ‘selling’ the sport to young people.
The plan to reach young people was evident in the manner of his manifesto launch, as he did it via a Google Hangout session broadcast live on YouTube on Wednesday.
Opening the session, he said: “We are very fortunate to be the No1 Olympic sport. We are a strong and unique family and it’s my intention to overcome some challenges [such as] how we can engage with the youth and bring them into athletics.
“I consider this to be a very important part of our successful future.”
Bubka goes up against Seb Coe in the race for IAAF president, as the current title holder Lamine Diack steps down following 16 years in charge.
And Bubka stressed the importance of working with national associations to implement effective and wide-ranging development programmes and financial support.
“Strong national associations mean a strong IAAF,” he added.
Last month Bubka’s team announced that he would push for a review of athletics, titled Vision 2025 – not unlike the Agenda 2020 review undertaken by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, the results of which were ratified by the IOC in December.
IOC member Bubka expanded on his plans saying: “The most intensive review of international athletics ever conducted should be done. We must review all aspects and consider what should be done anew.
“We should open the forum for everyone interested in athletics to give their thoughts, their ideas and direct us in which way we can develop a common future.
“I would create special working groups dedicated to different subjects, engage the national federations, our experts, our athletics partners and sponsors in a big discussion to produce the findings and recommendations.
“Then we will present these to an extraordinary congress to make decisions and move to the next level, the next step, to build a successful future for our lovely sport.”
However, Bubka pledged that he would resist any attempt from the IOC to trim any athletics events for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
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