byLarry EderSeb Coe introduced his proposal for “Growing Athletics in a New Age” today, at his press conference in London, promoting SebCoe2015, Lord Coe’s bid for the IAAF Presidency in 2015.
Seb Coe unveils IAAF Presidential Campaign Manifesto ‘Growing
Athletics in a New Age’
Exciting proposals to increase global reach and appeal of Athletics
London, 3 December 2014: Seb Coe, Vice President of the International Association of Athletics Federations [IAAF] has today unveiled his vision for Athletics and the IAAF as part of his campaign to become President of the IAAF.
In a campaign Manifesto entitled ‘Growing Athletics in a New Age’, Coe outlines four key pillars underpinned by a comprehensive series of proposals to guide his vision for Athletics and the IAAF if he is successful in his bid to become IAAF President.
Launching his election Manifesto, Seb Coe said:
“The vision and proposals that I am unveiling today are designed to increase the reach and appeal of Athletics in a world that is rapidly changing. I believe that it is essential that we open up a real debate and take a long hard look at the ‘product’ of Athletics if we aim to attract more young people into our sport and drive increased participation and income. We must be ready to be creative, take action and embrace change.”
The four key pillars in ‘Growing Athletics in a New Age’ are:
§ Embracing change to secure a better future:
– World Athletics calendar reform, sports presentation changes, city centre competitions and tailored development programmes
§ Decentralisation and empowerment:
– A more devolved system of support for Member Federations, reviewing the role of IAAF Regional Development Centres, building University partnerships, ensuring a greater voice for athletes in the IAAF and reviewing IAAF internal structures
§ Maximising commercial growth:
– A focus on youth engagement, restructuring the IAAF commercial department and ensuring greater commercial opportunities for athletes
§ Ensuring integrity and trust in everything we do:
– Increasing anti-doping and integrity resources, creating a new IAAF Ethics Department and supporting the independence of all Member Federations
Coe added:
“To many within and outside our sport, our calendar seems disjointed, lacks a narrative and the essential glue to build excitement and a loyal and passionate following. Many fans don’t know when the Athletics season starts, when it ends, why it seems to bounce around from the USA to Europe to Asia and back again. A harmonised calendar is the key to promotion, marketing, the athletes and Member Federation development and we must address this.
“We need to be more innovative in how we project and present our sport to the world, both in venue and on screen, give serious consideration to an ‘IAAF Street Athletics’ circuit to help reach new audiences, and create a new IAAF division that has the sole purpose of focussing on youth engagement, especially via social media.
“Ensuring the integrity of Athletics and the IAAF is also crucial if we are to win and maintain the trust of fans and all our partners, and that is why I will ensure increased resources are invested into this critical area.
“It is also important that we have a more devolved and targeted system of support for Member Federations that better reflects local needs so that a greater pool and spread of world class athletes can develop across the globe. Over the next decade we can, and must, grow the number of nations achieving IAAF World Championship Finalist status from 60 to 100.
“I want the discussion on these issues to flourish in the weeks and months ahead and I am convinced that by working with this vision and in true partnership with Member Federations, our sport can embark on an exciting new era of global growth. Our aspiration has to be to see more young people become athletes, more people watching and consuming our sport and greater revenues flowing into the Athletics family.”
Please go to www.sebcoe2015.org to read ‘Growing Athletics in a New Age’.
