By Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: Expanding the track and field season beyond September and managing a new TV deal could take Asian athletics forward in a major way, IAAF President Sebastian Coe said yesterday.
“We talk about the development of the sport in Asia all the time. One of the potentials I see of developing the sport in Asia is actually to extend our season,” Coe, 59, said in an interview with The Peninsula yesterday.
“I have for sometime felt that in essence our season in athletics - I am not talking about road, I am not talking about marathon, but I am talking about track and field - is effectively made to last till September,” the celebrated retired British athlete said.
“I think anything we can do to extend our season and take our athletes to different areas of the world can help expand our sport and actually help them in their profile because from May to September the world is focusing on them.
“The world should be focusing on them more during the period which is not made for them. We have to create experiences for young people,” he explained.
“I think Asia has the potential for that. We have also spoken about the potential of linking Oceania with the Asian tour because there are challenges for the Oceania athletes to remain fit and compete and often to qualify for championships in August and September and in February and March.
“So actually (we are) building a programme. I know the continental presidents have sat down and discussed this as well. Actually finding a TV partner could help grow the sport in both continents,” Coe said.
When asked about IAAF’s Diamond League breaking new ground with their first ever leg in Rabat, Morocco, later this month, Coe said he couldn’t be happier to find new audiences in Africa.
“I am looking forward to being in Rabat. Morocco is a country that is passionate about track and field. They have done well for our sport and some of the best middle distance runners have come from Morocco,” Coe said.
“I wanted to see Diamond League expanded to Africa and when the first opportunity came we went to Rabat,” Coe said.
Coe, who replaced Lamine Diack as IAAF President last August, said IAAF does not believe in forcing athletes to compete at any event they don’t feel like going to.
“I don’t think a federation can command athletes to compete when it doesn’t actually suit them to compete,” Coe said yesterday.
“I was an international athlete and I chose my races very carefully in the build up to championships.
“But I think there has to be an overwhelming principle and that is we need to encourage the athletes to compete as often as they can and to accept that public really gets excited about big competitions and head-to-heads. And to make sure young people are seeing their heroes as often as possible,” he said.
“But I think it’s not a good thing that we force an athlete that they have to compete. I think we need to create structures and sometimes financial incentives for them to feel they could put this (their appearances) into their programmes.
“But I don’t think we should ever intervene and tell them the way to get to major championships,” Coe said yesterday.
The Peninsula
