Bubka: Olympics Aid Athletics Development in Americas

(ATR) Sergey Bubka says the buildup to the first Olympics in South America has increased enthusiasm for the sport throughout the region.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) vice president believes hosting the Olympics in Brazil will help the sport of athletics as well as the Olympic Movement as a whole.

"I have felt the growth of enthusiasm from fans and young athletes in Brazil and throughout the region ahead of the Games. When travelling over [the] region I’m always amazed by the number of kids practicing track-and-field and competing at local and international meets," Bubka said.

Bubka is a member of the IOC Coordination Commission for Rio 2016 after being recently reappointed by IOC president Thomas Bach. He is confident the Rio Olympics will go off without a hitch.

"I am sure that despite challenges, Rio 2016 will deliver, and the Games will boost the development of the Olympic Movement and the sport of athletics in South and Central Americas," Bubka said in a statement.

Bubka is one of two candidates running for president of the IAAF, facing off against fellow IAAF vice president Sebastian Coe. The candidates have two months of campaigning remaining before the August election.

Last week, Seb Coe released a 100-day plan he would enact if elected as the federation’s president. Meanwhile, Sergey Bubka attended the opening ceremony of the inaugural European Games in Baku and has been traveling across the world to seek support from the IAAF’s 213 member federations.

Bubka has already visited every continent and says "I don't know how many laps around the world I've done."

One tenet of each of their campaigns is a strong push for the integrity of the sport and eliminating the use of performance enhancing drugs.

In Coe’s 100-day plan, he would like to establish an anti-doping agency that is used solely for the IAAF and can handle all of the federation’s testing needs. Bubka was recently reappointed as chair of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission and says education is the best defense against doping.

If Bubka does not win the presidential election, he will remain on the ballot for one of four vice president positions within the federation. Coe will only run for the position of president, a loss resulting in Coe no longer being a member of the IAAF.

The election will take place on August 19, the evening before the IAAF world championships in Beijing.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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