Sergei Bubka is not yet president of the IOC. But, if he is elected, the former pole vaulter will be able to explain to his peers how to fill a stadium. In Moscow, where foreign observers noted the low attendance at the Luzhniki stadium during the World Athletics Championships, a noisy and colorful colony of 2000 Ukrainian supporters put on a show in the stands. “I brought them myself,” Sergei Bubka said at the start of the competition, in a joking tone. In fact, he was almost telling the truth.
Lamine Diack, the president of the IAAF, explained it himself on Sunday August 18, during the final press conference of the 2013 world championships. “Last month, I traveled with Sergei and one of his friends on the plane of the latter, to go to Kazan for the Universiade. We were talking about the World Cup in Moscow and the difficulty the Russian organizers had in filling the stadium. Our host joined in the conversation. He asked us how many spectators we would need. Sergei replied 2000. He then replied: “I’ll bring them to you.”
The man in question is not unknown. His name: Oleksandr Gerega. One of the biggest fortunes in Ukraine. President of the Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation, but above all boss of one of the largest construction companies in the country, known for growing buildings and supermarkets wherever the land allows. Sergei Bubka describes him as one of his close friends. “A sports fan,” summarizes the former pole vaulter. He and his family have done a lot for sport in Ukraine. »
For the Moscow Worlds, Oleksandr Gerega drew on old recipes. He selected 2000 of his most “deserving” employees. Then unfolded his checkbook to pay for their trip, their stay in the Russian capital and the stadium entrance tickets. As a bonus, he dressed them in the colors of Ukraine, yellow and blue.
Lamine Diack, the president of the IAAF, found the gesture very “generous”. Sergei Bubka, for his part, spoke of the anecdote without hiding his pride in having, in his own way, contributed to the success of the world championships. In less than a month, in Buenos Aires, the Senegalese could thank him in his own way, during the IOC Elective General Assembly. By voting for him, for example.
