In 2015, Sebastian Coe, a former athlete, was elected as the President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). His election to this prestigious role marked a new era for the global athletics community, as Coe was the first former athlete to be elected to lead the IAAF.
Former Athlete Becomes IAAF President in 2015
On August 19th 2015, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) elected Sebastian Coe as its new President. Coe, a British track and field star, was the first former athlete to be elected to lead the IAAF, making his election a historic moment for the global athletics community.
Coe is a four-time Olympic medallist, having won gold in the 1500 metres at the 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympics. He also broke four world records in the 1500 metres and mile events. After retiring from competitive athletics in 1990, Coe was appointed as the Chairman of the British Olympic Association, and then served as the Vice President of the IAAF from 2007 to 2015.
Election of Sebastian Coe to Lead International Athletics Federation
Coe was elected to the role of President of the IAAF in 2015, succeeding Lamine Diack, who had held the role since 1999. Coe was elected by a majority of 115 votes to 92, beating the Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka. Coe was seen as the more progressive of the two candidates, and his election was seen as a sign of a new era for the IAAF.
Since his election, Coe has worked hard to improve the reputation of the IAAF, and to ensure that the sport of athletics is both fair and accessible to all. He has worked to increase the number of women in the IAAF, and has made a commitment to foster greater transparency and accountability within the organization.
Sebastian Coe’s election to the role of President of the IAAF in 2015 marked an important moment in the history of the global athletics community. His election was seen as a sign of a new era for the IAAF, and Coe has worked hard to ensure that the sport of athletics is both fair and accessible to all.
In 2015, the former athlete Sebastian Coe was elected President of IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations). Coe was well-qualified for the position, having previously held a position in the British Parliament, and having won the gold medals in the 1500 meters event at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games. Coe’s election was officially confirmed at the Congress of IAAF in Beijing, China.
After he was elected as President, Coe promised to work diligently to make sure that the sport of athletics is clean, fair and properly governed. One of his main goals during his presidency has been to combat doping in athletics and to protect clean athletes by utilizing science and technology. Towards this end, he has implemented various initiatives such as the IAAF Anti-Doping Strategy and the IAAF Suspensions Working Group.
Moreover, Coe has been working to promote the sport of athletics worldwide, with a particular emphasis on youth participation. He has focused on creating development programs for young athletes in Africa and Asia, to help them gain access to sport and discover their full athletic potential. He has also supported various initiatives aimed at inspiring excellence and promoting athletics beyond its traditional core markets.
Sebastian Coe is a respected leader in the world of athletics and his dedication to the sport has been unwavering since he was first elected President. He has worked hard to ensure that the sport of athletics is not only competitive but also truly inclusive. As he enters into the fifth year of his presidency, Coe will be sure to continue the good work he has done so far.
