International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Sebastian Coe asked for support from the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) for his reform proposal in Doha yesterday.
The 85th edition of the AAA Council meeting, which was officially declared open by Qatar Olympic Committee vice-president Sheikh Saud bin Ali al-Thani, was chaired by AAA and Qatar Athletics Federation president Dahlan al-Hamad.
“Athletics is a very nice and popular sport that can flourish even more in the future,” Sheikh Saud said in his welcome message.
It is the fourth time in less than a month that Coe attended an area session in an attempt to gather support for his proposal of reforming IAAF’s governance structure, which will be brought for consideration at a Special Congress to be held in Monaco on December 3, 2016.
“It has been an extraordinary journey that brought me back to the two things I like the most: to watch the preparation of the athletes and spend time with the member federations.
“Your decisions will strengthen my hand when I will further attempt to enrich our role in society, in governance, for the health and the safety of the young people,” added Coe.
In his opening statement addressing the delegates, Coe recalled his first visit in Doha 20 years ago: “I still remember the hospitality, the kindness, the friendship of the Qatari people. I see now the buildings that were the only ones standing at the time, surrounded by recent construction: this is a constant reminder of the extraordinary change that took place here at all levels in a few years’ time and has shaped modern Qatar.
“Here, in our Asian family, we mourn for two losses, in Doha (former Emir Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani) and in Thailand (King Bhumibol Adulyadej). I would like to express my sympathy to both countries.
“Allow me also to thank Dahlan al-Hamad for waiting to welcome me at 5am in the airport. This is way beyond the duties of the role of the president of an area, beyond what is written in any organisation’s constitution. I am thankful!”
Al-Hamad expressed condolences on behalf of the Asian Federations to the governments and the people of Qatar and Thailand for the loss of two great leaders “which we all will remember”.
He also thanked Coe for coming to Doha for the third time in eight months: “I honestly wish that under President Coe’s guidance and leadership the sport will get into a new era!”