POSTED: April 30th 2009
NewsUpdate
Bubka banks on bright future
KEIR RADNEDGE / Sports Features Communications
MILAN: Athletics can raise its profile still further over the coming year to capitalise on the achievements of Usain Bolt and Co at the Beijing Olympics last year.
This confident assertion has come from Sergey Bubka, the former pole vault gold medallist who now takes a leading role within both the Oympic and athletics administration.
Bubka, an IOC member and honorary member of its athletes’ commission, told AIPS Congress: “Today’s communications technology is really helping us promote our sport, build our heroes, and bring in the younger generations. I also learned through my career to appreciate the importance of keeping close relations with the media which works positively for the different sports and federations.
More effective
“Athletics was a great success in Beijing and we are looking forward to make our work even more effective this summer as we go towards Berlin and the world championships when the best athletes will be present – like Usain Bolt,. Yelena Isinbayeva and other heroes."
But Bubka cautioned: “Of course there is still room to improve. We understand that competition between all the different sports is strong so we, in the IAAF, are trying to bring something new to enhance the interest in our athletes for viewers around the world.
“From next year we will also have a Diamond League to attract greater interest around the world. Up until now we had the Golden League but that was only in Europe. Now we will go out around the world which is important for the promotion of our sport.”
Bubka underlined the importance of athletics’ continued work with the “grass roots in every country” and a record $3m investment in the fight against doping.
Keywords · athletics · Beijing Olympics · Bubka
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