New IAAF Home Up and Running in Monaco

(ATR) The new International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) headquarters are now operational in Monaco.

This marks the first time all of the departments will be able to work together in the same building since the federation moved to Monaco in 1994.

Notable attendees at the inauguration ceremony included IAAF president Lamine Diack, Prince Albert II of Monaco and IOC president Thomas Bach. Bach who said while there that he "is a great fan of athletics."

"I feel very close to athletics and very close to you all. We have excellent relations between IAAF and IOC, and it is in fact the only international federation with whom we hold regular joint meetings of our executive committees," Bach went on to add.

The IOC president was able witness the IAAF move to Monaco come full circle with the completion of the new headquarters. Bach was in Monaco when the first IAAF headquarters were inaugurated in 1994. Before Monaco, the IAAF headquarters were stationed in London from 1948 to 1993.

Prince Albert II added this ceremony to what has already been an eventful week for the Monegasqueleader. He and his wife Princess Charlene hosted a ceremony for the baptism of their five-month-old twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques on Monday.

With the headquarters complete, the federation will begin making final preparations for the 2015 IAAF Diamond League season starting May 15 in Doha, Qatar. The second Diamond League meet of this season will be May 17 in Shanghai, China.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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