(ATR) Sebastian Coe believes his IAAF presidential campaign is gaining momentum after receiving public backing from another 15 federations on Friday.
The Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) and federations from the North American, Central America and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) have thrown their support behind Coe’s bid to replace Lamine Diack at the helm of the global athletics’ body.
Coe is up against Ukrainian pole vault legend Sergey Bubka in the race for the IAAF hot seat. The presidential election takes place in Beijing on Aug. 19 ahead of the world athletics championships.
The latest countries to endorse Coe are: Puerto Rico; Bermuda; Barbados; Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; St Vincent and Grenadines; Grenada; Trinidad and Tobago; US Virgin Islands; British Virgin Islands; Turks and Caicos; Cayman Islands; Canada; and Jamaica.
On Thursday, the Ghana Athletics Association became the first African nation to publicly back the double Olympic champion’s campaign.
The British Olympic Association president says he can already count on votes from nine countries who are part of the Athletic Association Small States of Europe – Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro and San Marino.
Other countries who have declared their support for Coe include Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
NACAC members’ support comes in the wake of Coe’s talks with federation leaders in Costa Rica at last week’s NACAC Senior Championships.
"I am extremely humbled as well as encouraged that so many member federations have come out and expressed their support for my candidacy ahead of next week’s election," Coe said in a statement Friday.
Like Coe, Bubka has been criss-crossing the globe in pursuit of support for his quest to lead the IAAF.
Bubka told ATR last week that he didn’t lack for backing and was confident of his chances of securing athletics’ top job.
The IOC Executive Board member has been quietly earning endorsements on the campaign trail but has been keeping tight-lipped about the number of the IAAF’s 214 member federations who have pledged to support him.
However, Singapore Athletics president Tang Weng Fei on Thursday came out fighting for Bubka. Eastern European nations are also expected to vote for him.
On Thursday, the Ukraine NOC president vowed to develop training programs to bring athletics coaches to a new level if he is elected IAAF president.
In recent days, Bubka has sought to widen his appeal by saying the IAAF should provide funding, through grants or 0% interest loans, to help ensure national federations and area associations own their headquarters to improve their administration.
Another key pledge is for the IAAF and other athletics governing bodies to do more to provide women with leadership positions. Bubka proposes to introduce an additional IAAF vice president position for women and wants every committee and commission to include at least one female.
"Female athletes inspire young women around the world to go for sport," he said in a statement.
"Eight athletics national federations are chaired by female presidents, and more than two dozen federation secretary generals are in charge. But it is the global task for the IAAF to support and ensure the equal opportunities for both male and female administrators."
Reported by Mark Bisson
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.