Perfect timing. World Athletics took advantage of 24 August, the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, to make a donation of equipment to help Ukrainian athletes. The President of the governing body, Sebastian Coe, met some of the delegation present at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, along with former athlete Nataliya Dobrynska – Olympic champion in the heptathlon at the Beijing Games in 2008 – a newly elected member of the World Athletics Board. The equipment aid distributed this week in Hungary is part of the special fund set up last year by World Athletics, the International Athletics Foundation (IAF) and the members of the Diamond League Association. Its aim is to enable Ukrainian athletes to continue training, qualify and then take part in the World Championships. A team of 29 Ukrainian athletes is currently taking part in the World Championships in Budapest. The fund has a budget of $190,000 this year. The equipment provided includes poles and landing mats.
