Sports Leaders React to Coe Election as IAAF President

(ATR) IOC president Thomas Bach was among top officials in the Olympic Movement who sent congratulatory messages to Sebastian Coe on becoming the new IAAF chief.

Coe beat rival Sergey Bubka 115 votes to 92 in the election at the IAAF Congress in Beijing.

"This was a close race and a fair competition between two great athletes," Bach said in a statement to Around the Rings.

"I am looking forward to an excellent cooperation with Seb Coe with whom I have had a great friendship since our days in the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 1981.

"I also look forward to the continuation of excellent cooperation with Sergey Bubka on the IOC Executive Board."

IOC vice president John Coates described the vote as "a great day for athletics and international sport."

"Seb was clearly best qualified for the presidency as not only an Olympic champion, businessman and politician, but a person of the very highest integrity and character who has organized a most successful Olympic Games," he said.

Craig Reedie, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency and a close friend of Coe, sent his note of congratulations. Amid the wave of doping allegations that have engulfed the IAAF in recent weeks, he clearly hopes Lamine Diack’s successor will deliver on pledges to take the fight to the drug cheats through the creation of an independent anti-doping committee for athletics.

"We look forward to a positive and strong relationship with the new president in his avowed plans to protect the rights of the clean athlete," said the IOC Executive Board member.

Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman said Coe'selection was the result of his commitment to sport and the worldwide recognition for the "fantastic work" he had accomplished as London 2012 chairman and at the British Olympic Association. :I am fully confident that your management will drive athletics even further in all possible dimensions", said Nuzman, who also heads the Brazilian Olympic Committee.

"I would like to use the opportunity to reaffirm how grateful I am for your support to the organizing committee Rio 2016, either by your constant presence, or by the competent, candid and timely advice," he added.

Even British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted his delight at the Coe's election win. Cameron said Coe was "an outstanding athlete who delivered the brilliant London 2012 Olympics."

British Olympic Association chief executive Bill Sweeney, who is in Beijing with the Team GB team, said: "As one of the leading figures in global sports administration, a double Olympic gold medalist and chair of the London 2012 organising committee, there is no better man to lead the federation going forward and to oversee the changes I know

he feels are vital for the future of the sport.

"The sport of athletics could not be in better hands as we enter a crucial period leading up to an Olympic Games."

Coe to Juggle Roles

Coe, 58, told a press conference Wednesday that he had no plans to step down from his various other sporting positions.

He said it was "very early to give a definite view," emphasizing "I am very proud of the chairmanship of the British Olympic Association."

Coe was elected BOA chair in November 2012 to serve a four-year term. It seems likely he will step aside in 2016 after the Rio Olympics. Other roles include an advisory role with Nike.

"You have a president who will devote full-time attention to the management and direction of the IAAF. Anything that I have to do to accommodate around the presidency of the federation, I will do," he added at the media briefing following his IAAF victory.

Coe said he was "very flattered, very honored" to be chosen to lead the athletics’ federation. Praising the achievements of Diack, who has occupied the IAAF role since 1999, Coe said he had "sizeable shoes to

fill."

While in a characteristically jovial mood, spurred by the relief of winning, he also struck a serious tone to underline what the job meant to him.

"It has been a long journey. At 11, I joined an athletics club. I served a 10 to 12 year apprenticeship before I got to an Olympic Stadium," he said.

"This for me is the pinnacle. It’s my sport, my passion, and it’s what I have always wanted to do."

He said he was "delighted to be president of the number one Olympic sport."

"I will do everything within my human capabilities to make sure that our sport maintains the values, the strong legacies and the very firm foundations that president Diack has left me with. This sport is strong. I have the responsibility to make it stronger," he added.

He said the "very long and arduous campaign" had given a chance for the sport to "review and renew itself… to think what the next 30 to 40 years look like."

Coe wouldn’t go into details when asked about the timetable for forming the independent doping authority he has promised or how it would be paid for, saying he had to talk to IAAF Council colleagues first.

"There is a zero tolerance to the abuse of doping in my sport and I will maintain that to the very highest level of vigilance," he pledged.

Asked by ATR about his biggest priorities, he spoke about "empowering federations," giving them the resources to match their needs and also growing the appeal of athletics to the younger generation. A review of athletics’ calendar and the way the sport is presented will now take place as Coe sets to work on implementing his manifesto promises.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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