20 Aug. 2015 – Sebastian COE, the two times olympic champion in 1500m, was elected as the sixth IAAF President at the 50th IAAF Congress in Beijing, China, on Wednesday 19.
Sebastian Coe with Sergey Bubka
COE was facing another great champion Sergey BUBKA who was the world record holder in Pault Vault and 6 times world champion in this event. Finally, 207 Member Federations voted: 115 votes for Sebastian COE from Great Britain and 92votes for Sergey BUBKA from Ukraine.
“I am deeply honoured that our sport has placed its trust in me. There is no job I want to do more – nor with greater commitment,” said Coe.
Among the first to congratulate Sebastian Coe were the current IAAF President Lamine Diack and Sergey Bubka, who was later elected as an IAAF Vice President.
“We have a man who has devoted his life to the sport.” commented President Diack.
“I know that athletics in the future will grow, and become stronger and stronger,” added Bubka.
COE will take office on 31 August, after the end of the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015. COE was very active lately, we’ve seen him Bahrain at the Arab Championship and in different Arab meetings during this year. Our Lebanese federation members also met with the new president. We should also note that Claire CHEHAB was also present in this congress and is not only representing Lebanon but is also the Chairperson of the IAAF Women’s Committee. A position we should be proud of as Lebanese and Arab people.
Claire Chehab at the Beijing Congress
“It has been a long road. I joined an athletics club when I was 11, I had the joys of Olympic competition and I the joys of being able to put on one of the greatest sporting events ever, but this for me is the pinnacle, it’s my sport, it’s my passion, it’s the thing I always wanted to do.
“Lamine has left us with an extraordinarily strong foundation and one aspect of that foundation is that we are a truly global sport. I will do my best to continue from those firm foundations
“In 2001 and 2002, I sought the advice of Lamine Diack about playing a greater role in the sport and in 2003 I became a Council member. In 2007 I sought his advice again before I became a Vice President.
“It has been an apprenticeship that has helped me understand greater the balances and nuances within the sport.
“I want to thank the (member) federations but I also want to thank those that cover and broadcast our sport. We tend to forget that the media is most potent sponsor of our sport; and I will maintain my chairmanship of the media committee.
“I made the point absolute unflinchingly (to the Congress) this morning, you have a president who will devote full-time attention to the management and the direction of the IAAF. I would not have thrown by hat into the ring if I felt that I would be short changing this organisation.
“It has been a long and hard campaign but it has given us the chance to pause for breath, the chance to review and renew itself,” added Coe.
Athletics was lately facing a huge wave of doping cases, some athletes lost faith in the IAAF and started a campaign against it, so we hope that Sebastian COE will save athletics from drowning and clean our sport!
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