Sebastian Coe Elected Iaaf President
Sebastian Coe has been elected as the IAAF president at the global governing body’s Congress in Beijing. The 1980 and 1984 Olympic 1500m champion was nominated by UK Athletics and defeated Ukrainian pole vault legend Sergey Bubka by 115 votes to 92.
Coe’s election was part of a clean sweep for candidates nominated by UK Athletics at the Congress, with all five British candidates being elected to various positions.
Paula Radcliffe was elected to the IAAF Cross County Committee, Kelly Sotherton was elected to the IAAF Women’s Committee, Keith Davies won a place on the IAAF Technical Committee and Peter Marlow retained his position on the IAAF Race Walking Committee.
Following the announcement of his election, Coe said: “I am deeply honoured that our sport has placed its trust in me. There is no job I want to do more – nor with greater commitment.
He tweeted shortly after the result was announced: “Delighted and humbled by the confidence shown in me by the IAAF family – thank you, now the hard work begins”.
The former London 2012 chairman succeeds Senegal’s Lamine Diack, who has led the organisation for the past 16 years. Coe will serve an initial term of four years as president starting next week (31st August), following the conclusion of the Championships taking place at the Bird’s Nest Stadium.
One of Coe’s first tasks will be to deal with the fall-out from a series of recent doping allegations to hit athletics.
Coe, who won gold medals in the 1500m at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics and set numerous world records over both the 1500m and 800m, has also been a Conservative MP, worked for FIFA and was a key figure in London’s bid for and staging of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Beaten opponent Bubka, concluded: “I know athletics in the future will grow and become stronger and stronger.”
Image: ©Getty Images
