By Anthony Foster, TrackAlerts.Com Writer
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Confederation (NACAC) will honour Lamine Diack, outgoing president of the IAAF, in August.
The Gala to celebrate Diack’s life in Athletics will be held during the weekend of the NACAC Congress and Championships – August 7-9 in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.
Victor Lopez, president of NACAC, explained why the region decided to have a Gala in honour of Diack. “He has been an unconditional supporter of our Area/Region and the NACAC Executive feels that we must recognize him,” said Lopez.
Diack entered the IAAF in 1976 and was Senior Vice President under President Primo Nebiolo until he passed away. Upon the death of the fourth IAAF President Primo Nebiolo on November 7, 1999, Diack immediately took over as acting President and Diack has subsequently been re-elected unopposed to the position in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2011. As head of the IAAF, Diack has also been a member of the International Olympic Committee since December 1999 and he is one of only a few Africans ever to have been leaders of an international sports federation.
Diack was involved in politics in Senegal his native country where he served as Mayor of Dakar and Secretary of State for Youth and Sport.
Meanwhile, Lopez said NACAC “will also be recognizing four individuals who have contributed to the NACAC Development of Athletics as well to World Athletics: Amadeo Francis, Bob Hersh, Cesar Moreno and the late Neville "Teddy" McCook will receive posthumous recognition.
