Coe declares candidacy for IAAF president

Sebastian Coe yesterday declared his candidacy to become president of track and field’s world governing body, setting up a likely election battle against pole-vault great Sergei Bubka. Coe, the two-time Olympic champion in the 1 500 metres, had widely been expected to run for the top job of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). He made it official in a statement issued yesterday, saying: “As I speak to friends and colleagues around our great sport I appreciate that we are entering a very important time for athletics and that it is the right time to open up a discussion about the future.” The 58-year-old Coe, who headed the organising committee for the 2012 London Olympics, has been an IAAF vice president since 2007. Coe is expected to face competition from Bubka, who won the Olympic pole-vault gold medal in 1988 and broke the world record 35 times. The Ukrainian, who is also an IAAF vice president, has not yet formally announced his candidacy. They are expected to be the only two candidates in next year’s election to succeed Lamine Diack, who has been IAAF president since 1999. Coe won gold medals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and 1984 Los Angeles Games. He set 12 world records during his career in the 800, 1 500 and the mile (1.6 kilometres). He retired from competition in 1990. Coe said he will release his election manifesto early next month. “It will highlight the importance of our sport embracing innovation and change as we move forward,” he said. “I want us to have a renewed focus on engagement with young people and a real understanding of the global landscape that is shaping the next generation of athletes and fans.” LONDON-NAMPA/AP