Sergey Bubka: 'We have to use the experience of successful athletics meetings all over the world'

IAAF Vice President Sergey Bubka has met Norway’s Athletics Federation President Svein Arne Hansen to discuss the experience of organizing athletics in both countries and deliver his vision of the future of the sport.

Sergey Bubka, Ukraine NOC President and Executive Board and Council member of the Ukraine Athletics Federation, shared with Mr Hansen his successful experience of running educational and promotion projects within the Committee, as well as cooperation with National Federations, partnership with government and sponsors for the promotion of sport in Ukraine.

Bubka, who stands for the IAAF Presidency at the elections in August 2015, was interested in Mr Hansen’s longtime experience as the organizer of Bislett Games, now part of the IAAF Diamond League. ‘Oslo meeting has very positive reputation among athletes, spectators, and media for its atmosphere, great performance and high standards of delivery. I am sure we should use the experience of successful meetings’ organizers in terms of marketing, logistics and promo campaigns for the global improvements in our sport’.

Mr Hansen shared with Sergey Bubka his experience as the National Federation president underlining the importance of building new facilities to engage young people. He said, ‘We in Norway managed to increase the number of indoor and outdoor venues significantly in the recent years. This led to the increase of young people going for athletics at the clubs. Some of them have even to establish limits for attendance as there is no place left for newcomers’.

Mr Hansen attended Kyiv invited by his Ukrainian counterpart Ihor Hotsul to discuss the plans for reforms in Ukrainian sport system and share the vision of the future of European athletics. Svein Hansen is one of three EAA Presidency candidates along with Jean Gracia from France and Antti Pihlakovski from Finland at the elections which are to take place in Bled, Slovenia, next week.

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