• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Media

Lamine Diack cancels meeting with Seb Coe for May 25; Why you should care

Larry EderbyLarry Eder
May 23, 2018
0
0 0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Several months ago, it was noted that former IAAF President Lamine Diack, who is sitting in his home in Paris, with an ankle bracelet on, and 550,000 Euro bail, had requested a meeting with current IAAF President Seb Coe. The meeting, per www.InsidetheGames.biz, was scheduled to happen on May 25, 2018. The meeting was to happen in the presence of French Judge Renaud Van Ruymbeke. Per a copyrighted story in Inside the Games, the fine newsletter noted today that Mr. Diack has cancelled this meeting, citing medical reasons.

Diack_Liam-IAAF07.jpgLamine Diack, photo by PhotoRun.net

RelatedPosts

Toni Reavis Is Honored – And He Sends It Right Back!

N KOLAY ISTANBUL MARATHON ON 6th NOVEMBER: Istanbul targets Turkish All-comers’ Record

Coffee With Larry, Thursday, October 27, 2022, Nnenna Lynch gets a story in the New York Times

Why should you care?

Well, read on dear readers.

The level of corruption that Lamine Diack and his son, Papa Diack allegedly reached, while miniscule in standards, if one looks at FIFA corruption, has never been resolved. Papa Diack has been on the Interpol Most Wanted list since December 2015. Think about that. How bad does one have be to stay on the Interpol Most Wanted List for nearly two and one half years? Lamine Diack has been under house arrest for nearly that long, with an ankel bracelet, and bail of 550,000 Euros.

Coe_Sebastian-WorInd18.jpgSeb Coe, 2018 World Indoor Championships, Birmingham, England, photo by PhotoRun.net

Confounding French authorities, the government of Senegal has refused to allow extradition of Papa Diack. Suggestions are that Papa Diack was able to procur, for the current President of Senegal a most auspicious donation from a foreign government. Consider Papa Diack a broker of extraordinary means. Consider that donation was allegedly procured from the president of a large nation, who just celebrated his fourth resounding election, and one sees how sport and global poliitics make fascinating bedfellows. That, dear readers, will be another, much longer column.

Papa Diack is quite the clever one. As French authorities closed in, and media stories started to circulate, Diack used a tactic once called, “Scorched Earth”. He destroyed all he could, and did it quite easily, without leaving the protection of his friends in Senegal, ending the careers of several IAAF professionals. This was a surgical strike. It was done to provide a clear message: Screw with me at your own peril. Many wondered who else he had corrupted? That question has not been answered.

Never underestimate one’s competitors. That is a precept of Von Clausewitz, Vom Kriege (On War). Papa Diack operates best during what can be called, euphemistically, “the fog of war” (Nebel des Krieges). Modern media tends to encourage the “fog of war,”(described as the ability to react to fast moving situations in a very fluid environment) and Papa Diack has come out swinging. Each time he does, his adversaries seem shocked. Papa Diack’s actions should shock no one. He has played his hand, but variations of that hand will continue to result in damage.

From allegedly taking bribes to allegedly keep positive drug tests quiet to allegedly nfluencing voting for the Rio Olympics, how far does one have to go to consider if the Diacks required financial support for all of their activities? Where did their level of depravity and cunning end?Where did their greed end?

This stench will lay over our sport until these questions are answered. Judge Van Ruymbeke is trying to ascertain what really went on. 84 year old Lamine Diack, the disgraced President of the IAAF, was hoping for a legacy for his time as President. Due to his son, Papa, and his actions, there is a legacy of corruption. Lamine Diack and Papa Diack have come close to destroying our sport. Truth be told, no one stopped them.

Recognitiion of the amazing investigative work done by the French criminal authorities, Interpol, FBI and DOJ, and various global media organizations must also be made. Much of it is still outside of our knowledge base. While their focus was on global sports corruption, and there is much out there, athletics was caught in the cross hairs.

One more point; nearly all of the corruption of the Diacks was first spotted and outed by concerned members of the sport, and in many cases, by the IAAF. That is not a pat on the back. That is fact.

Papa Diack does not seem to care about the current unhappiness of his father, Lamine Diack. Papa will not head back to Paris to lessen the focus on his father. More than likely, the French authorities will have to put the proverbial hammer down on the former IAAF President. Lamine Diack will end up spending some time in a French prison. Perhaps, and it is only fitting, Mr. Diack may end up building high jump pits for a French athletics equipment manufacterer (yes, I have the catalogs that suggest that process), one of the current prison occupations in France. I am no doctor, but, that is not how the former President considered spending his retirement. C’est dommage.

Seb Coe continues to travel the world, supporting events and providing sound bites on the strength of the sport. That is good and that is his job. At this time, the sport needs three things. It needs a COO who knows the sport and has had experience in the global world of media. It needs a new and vital sponsor who sees the potential of the sport and its resliliance. And it needs a program to recognize the importance and support of independent media organizations to the sport. Those media organizations need access to all communications platforms.. Truth is this: unlike any other global sport, athletics has evens for every shape, size and age group on this planet. Streaming video, new and vital stars of our sport, and the art of story telling can make athletics much more attractive than it is now.

The culture of track & field is one of the sports’selling points, yet, we hardly hear about it. The sport’s leadship, as it is, spends too much of their time trying to defend the sport. And the defense is getting old. No one hears it.

Somehow, Seb Coe and the IAAF need to control the narrative of the Diacks. They are not going to go away. But the corruption of the Diacks must be recognized as what it was: corruption of the sport at the highest level. Then, and only then, can the sport move on and embrace the opportunities open to the worlds’ oldest and most resilient sport.

Author

  • Larry Eder
    Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

    View all posts

Previous Post

BOWIE AND THOMPSON TOP STRONG 100M FIELD IN EUGENE – IAAF DIAMOND LEAGUE

Next Post

2018 Pre Classic Diary: Christian Coleman versus Noah Lyles in the 200 meters: A battle Royale!

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

Similar Post

USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, complete results, May 26-27, 2023, by World Athletics Results Services
2023 WAContinentalTourGold

USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, complete results, May 26-27, 2023, by World Athletics Results Services

May 28, 2023
Oregon 22 World Champs, Day One: An Historic Beginning, Eugene’s Dream Becomes a Reality
2023 Wanda Diamond League

World Champions Gudaf, Ingebrigtsen, El Bakkali and Korir highlight the Rabat Diamond League

May 28, 2023
Coffee with Larry, Review of LA Grand Prix, day 1, Preview of LA Grand Prix, Day 2, review of LA Grand Prix Presser

Coffee with Larry, Review of LA Grand Prix, day 1, Preview of LA Grand Prix, Day 2, review of LA Grand Prix Presser

May 28, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Bermuda GP on Sunday, Night of 10,000m PBs on Saturday, Witness the wonder story #30!

2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training for the Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000 meters, Saturday is race day!

May 28, 2023
2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training for the Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000m, Week Eleven, Day 3, Wednesday is recovery day

2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training for the Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000m, Week Eleven, Day 5, Friday is for recovery…

May 27, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Live from Luskin Conference Center, the day 1 of USATF LA Grand Prix is upon us!

Coffee With Larry, Live from Luskin Conference Center, the day 1 of USATF LA Grand Prix is upon us!

May 27, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

July 5, 2022
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

July 17, 2022
2022 USATF Outdoor Champs: Melissa Jefferson takes the Women’s 100m title in windy 10.69!

The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

February 8, 2023

(RBR Archives) Coaching 101: Warm Up & Cool Down for the Jumps, by Roy Stevenson, note by Larry Eder

April 1, 2022
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

6
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
2022 Munich Diary, Day Five, a Great Friday Night

2023 European Athletics Indoor Champs, The Women’s 60m, who will win the final tonight?

5
TCS New York City Marathon Broadcast to be Available in More Than 530 Million Homes Around the World on Sunday, November 6

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, complete results, May 26-27, 2023, by World Athletics Results Services

USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, complete results, May 26-27, 2023, by World Athletics Results Services

May 28, 2023
Oregon 22 World Champs, Day One: An Historic Beginning, Eugene’s Dream Becomes a Reality

World Champions Gudaf, Ingebrigtsen, El Bakkali and Korir highlight the Rabat Diamond League

May 28, 2023
Coffee with Larry, Review of LA Grand Prix, day 1, Preview of LA Grand Prix, Day 2, review of LA Grand Prix Presser

Coffee with Larry, Review of LA Grand Prix, day 1, Preview of LA Grand Prix, Day 2, review of LA Grand Prix Presser

May 28, 2023
Coffee With Larry, Bermuda GP on Sunday, Night of 10,000m PBs on Saturday, Witness the wonder story #30!

2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training for the Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000 meters, Saturday is race day!

May 28, 2023

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • (RBR Archives) Coaching 101: Warm Up & Cool Down for the Jumps, by Roy Stevenson, note by Larry Eder

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent Tweets

Next Post

2018 Pre Classic Diary: Christian Coleman versus Noah Lyles in the 200 meters: A battle Royale!

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist