BEIJING, China – IAAF Presidential candidate Seb Coe has today reaffirmed the key policies that he would implement if he is elected as President on Wednesday [19 August].
Coe, who has been meeting with members of the Athletics family in Beijing ahead of the IAAF Congress, confirmed plans to create an Olympic Athletics Dividend that would provide a minimum $100,000 of additional funding over a four year period for all 214 Member Federations from the funds received from the IOC. This dividend would be in addition to existing grants, taking the total available to each Federation to $200,000 over four years. In addition, Coe reconfirmed other key policies that he would initiate in the first phase of his Presidency.
In addition to the Dividend, which would begin in January 2016 and has been fully costed and audited by one of the world's leading accountancy firms, Coe confirmed his priorities would be to:
Establish a World Athletics Calendar Reform and Sports Presentation Group to enhance Athletics as a product within a more harmonised World Calendar
Develop a communications strategy to improve day to day communications and relationships with Member Federations
Move towards an external, fully Independent Anti-doping Agency to deal with doping violations in international level Athletics
Improve the commercial support to Member Federations, add new sponsors and enhance the relationships with existing IAAF commercial partners
Create an IAAF Youth Marketing and Communications Division to advise the IAAF on how best to drive engagement with young people
Revamp the IAAF’s Development Programmes with Mobile Regional Development Centres informed by regional Member Federations’ needs
Appoint an IAAF Values Commission to help guide and support young athletes in making positive and beneficial decisions for their career.
Speaking in Beijing, Coe said:
“The Member Federations are the bedrock of our sport and the key policies that I will implement if elected aim to provide support that is better tailored to meet their specific needs and requirements at a local level.
“The Olympic Athletics Dividend is a great example of how we can work together as the Athletics family to invest in opportunities that fit with the priorities of Member Federations and help Athletics grow globally.
“Following many months of travelling and consulting with the Member Federations I believe more than ever that by working together with a focus on innovation and engagement we can create a new and exciting golden era for Athletics.”
