The Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China and Chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee Liu Peng, Mayor of Beijing Wang Anshun and IAAF President Lamine Diack officially opened the 198th IAAF Council meeting this morning in Intercontinental Beijing, Beichen Hotel.
Following the welcoming addresses, President Diack presented Minister Liu Peng and Mayor Wang Anshun with IAAF Honorary Plaques to mark the occasion.
In his opening speech to Council, President Diack commented: “the Council meeting that brings us together today comes at a crucial stage, heralding as it does the fact that the most populous country on the planet, and the world’s second largest economic power, will soon host our flagship competition, the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 (22-30 August).
“The dual status that China thus enjoys today confirms to me how right was the decision to make a steadfast commitment to ensuring that our sport could be opened to emerging countries.
“This Council meeting also comes on the eve of a historic development that will see a new president and a new team heading our institution, after a 16-year term that I have had the honour of serving alongside a number of you.”
On a busy day of discussions, no fewer than 10 presentations were delivered by various IAAF Committees and Commissions.
