Sergei Bubka does not slow down. The candidate for the presidency of the IAAF is continuing his campaign at breakneck speed, with the hope of beating Sebastian Coe to succeed Lamine Diack on August 19 in Beijing. The former pole vaulter stopped off in Paris over the last weekend for the Areva Meeting at the Stade de France. He took the opportunity to present his program to a handful of international journalists, in a restaurant on the Champs-Elysées. FrancsJeux was there.
Reorganize the IAAF
“President of the International Athletics Federation is a full-time job. It is not possible to hold the position without giving your all on a daily basis. The IAAF also needs an executive director, a position that does not currently exist. I also imagine an organization where the president would be supported by four vice-presidents. And the permanent team should be strengthened by recruiting a staff of very high-level professionals. When traveling abroad, the IAAF President must meet with the Head of State or Prime Minister, as well as the Minister of Sports. The IAAF must work more closely with governments, particularly in the fight against doping and the place of athletics in schools. »
Better help national federations
“The situation of national federations today is very disparate. In some countries, they do not have a single full-time employee. The IAAF must help them better and more. It must at least double its financial aid to national federations. In less wealthy countries, it must also pay the salaries of 2 or 3 professionals hired full-time, in order to help the federation better cope with the times and develop. But paying is not enough. We must also provide countries with information and knowledge. We should be able, for example, to send one or more experts to a federation that needs help, to set up a program or resolve a problem. In my vision of athletics in 2025, the IAAF must work with each national federation according to an individual approach which would take into account the reality of the country and its athletics. We could also organize seminars for them, particularly in business and marketing, to help them generate more resources. »
Reform the calendar
“This is a key point. This will take time, so don't rush. But I would like the calendar to be more solid, with high-level meetings between the stages of the Diamond League. I would also like to reform the Diamond League, replacing it with a World Cup-style circuit. Finally, I recommend extending the duration of the outdoor world championships, every two years, until they are organized over 11 days. The advantage would be to offer fewer finals each evening, but by presenting them better. »
IAAF President and IOC Member
“My position as an IOC member, where I sit on the Executive Board, is an asset to the IAAF. She can help me take athletics to an even higher level. My position today is very strong. If I am elected President of the IAAF, I could serve both the IOC and athletics even better. »
Bringing athletics to the people
“We need to get closer to the general public, attract young people, become more attractive. To do this, the IAAF must better promote its champions. Young people need examples to follow and idols to imitate. I am very supportive of the idea of taking our competitions out of the stadiums and onto the streets. France did it last year with a pole vault competition at the Eiffel Tower. More recently, the European Games in Baku organized two events, pole vault and height, in the street. A great success, marked by five best performances. You can also hold competitions in malls, and even imagine throwing the disc on the beach. »
A self-funded campaign
“I have paid all my expenses out of my own pocket since the start of my campaign for the IAAF presidency. I am a volunteer. I couldn't tell you how much all this cost me, because I don't count. Money is not important, I do it because I love it. I also couldn't tell you how many countries I've visited, I haven't counted them. But I travel barely more than I normally do. Since I stopped pole vaulting, my life has been a succession of trips and displacements. The people I work with often ask me how I manage to survive. My life was much calmer when I was an athlete. »
