The 12 European candidates vying for IAAF Council positions made individual campaign presentations on Tuesday at the traditional European Area meeting in advance of Thursday’s elections at the IAAF Congress in Beijing.
European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen invited the candidates to give short talks so that the leaders from the 48 Member Federations present could make more informed choices when they cast their ballots.
The candidates are Bernard Amsalem (FRA), Sylvia Barlag (NED), Mikhail Butov (RUS), Marton Gyulai (HUN), Erki Nool (EST), Jose Maria Odriozola (ESP), Sonia O’Sullivan (IRE), Antti Pihlakoski (FIN), Clemens Prokop (GER), Anna Riccardi (ITA), Ion Sandu (ROU), and Irena Szewinska (POL).
Amsalem is running for one of the four Vice-President positions, Odriozola for the role of Treasurer, and the others for Council.
The two European candidates vying for the Presidency, Sergey Bubka (UKR) and Sebastian Coe (GBR), will make presentations just before the vote during the Congress itself.
“This was the first time the European candidates have presented themselves to the other Member Federations ahead of the elections,” said President Hansen. “I believe it is very important, both for the candidates to make their cases and for our members to get a feel for those who will represent our interests at the world level.”
Emphasising the need for commitment and hard work by all those who will be elected, Hansen told the candidates that the coming four years will be a critical period for athletics.
“There are a lot of urgent issues to address, including the integrity of the sport, our competition programme and development. Europe’s representatives on the IAAF Council will need to work hard and cooperate with the members from the rest of the world for the good of the sport.
“We will certainly do well tomorrow, as whoever is elected president will be a European, but it will be a real challenge to keep as many seats on the Council as we have had in the past because the other Areas will all be looking to increase their representation.”