Sebastian Coe smiles. We understand it. The president of World Athletics has at least two good reasons to rejoice on Thursday, August 1: the athletics events began early in the morning, in the streets of the French capital, with the 20 km walk. And it invited athletes from five different countries to the podium, including Ecuador, thanks to Brian Daniel Pintado, winner among the men. “Proof of the true universality of athletics, which is the heart and soul of the Olympic Games”, welcomed the Briton.
The tone is set. For the President of World Athletics, serious things are finally starting at the Paris 2024 Games. Athletics is taking possession of the event. The discipline will not leave until the last day of the program, Sunday August 11.
Sebastian Coe took the opportunity to appear in front of the media early Thursday afternoon. A press conference lasting an hour exactly, without downtime, where the Briton returned without tongue in cheek on the decision of World Athletics to shake up the established order by distributing a bonus of 50.000 dollars to each of the Olympic champions at the Paris Games 2024.
Announced last April, during SportAccord in Birmingham, the initiative of the international body was welcomed in the Olympic movement by a concert of criticism. But Sebastian Coe does not budge: “ I remain convinced that we are heading in the right direction. This decision is right, because it is normal to reward athletes at the Olympic Games as they are at the world championships. And I must admit that I find it surprising that people do not see the correlation between the income that the Olympic movement receives from broadcasters and the remuneration of the athletes. These recipes are provided by the athletes, it seems normal to me that they receive a part of it. »
There is no question for Sebastian Coe and for World Athletics, therefore, of taking a step backward, at the risk of alienating the other international federations. Obviously, the Briton doesn't care. He stays straight in his boots. “ I would like to point out that this decision to remunerate athletes at the Paris 2024 Games was taken unanimously by the members of our Council.he insisted. We are not the only ones to financially reward medalists. Over 60% of national committees have done this as well, and have done so for as long as I can remember. In recent months, I have discussed this subject with a large number of athletes in sports other than athletics. They all assured me that they were in favor of our initiative. But I was not elected to chair the other bodies of the Olympic movement. »
Jon Ridgeon, the executive director of World Athletics, hit the nail on the head by using such a solid tool. “ We are told that this money would be more useful for the development of athletics, he stressed to the media. But one does not prevent the other. We have dedicated $15 million to development, all over the world. And we will further increase this amount during the next Olympiad."
Let it be said, athletics wants to continue to innovate, without fear of sometimes sailing solo into headwinds. And its international federation intends to do it in all seasons. At the Winter Games, in particular. Sebastian Coe confirmed it: discussions began with David Lappartient, the president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), to try to bring cross-country and cyclo-cross into the Winter Games. “ There are still details to be resolved to be fully aligned, he explained. But we make common cause. I am convinced that cross country belongs in the Winter Games. This would allow more African countries to come."
Cautious, Sebastien Coe did not mention a precise deadline for a return of cross-country to the Olympic program. But he suggested that the Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2034 could provide favorable terrain. “ I had a very positive discussion on this issue with the US Olympic Committee”, confided the Briton.
