Thirty years on, the sport is fighting to make a connection with the next generation.
Although it remains the centerpiece of the Olympic Games, beyond that four-yearly celebration athletics is on the wane and, if it were not for the
giant presence of Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt, it would be in real
trouble.
A dire shortage of recognizable personalities T.J. Green Jersey , an ageing audience, a confusing calendar, a continuing struggle to attract interest in the United States and the dark shadow
of doping has left athletics fighting for a foothold in an ever more crowded
sporting and leisure landscape.
None of this is news to those who run the sport but Coe, who launched his campaign to become president of the International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF) on Wednesday, recognizes the need for remedial action is
urgent.
"From the moment I joined an athletics club I was hooked for life but I am not hermetically sealed in the past Ryan Kelly Jersey ," he said.
"There is much to celebrate, protect and nourish but also much that needs to change. There is a fundamental concern about where our next generation of
spectators, TV viewers, competitors and coaches will come from.
"Despite many well-intentioned initiatives we have struggled to excite young people and articulate why athletics matters to them. This is unsustainable."
Such an admission is hard for a man for whom almost his entire life has been based around running.
Inspired by the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, Coe honed his talent on the municipal tracks Johnny Unitas Colts Jersey , hills and roads of south Yorkshire, as, coached by his father Peter, he developed into the most formidable middle
distance runner on the planet.
A clutch of world records and back-to-back 1,500-meter Olympic gold medals Zach Banner Colts Jersey , as well as an intense and productive rivalry with fellow Briton Steve Ovett, propelled him to the top of the country's
sporting tree.
Ironically though, for a man who routinely dodged Ovett outside of major championship races, one of the issues that Coe has with the sport in the 21st
century is its lack of the head-to-head showdowns that fans love.
Bolt, for example Marlon Mack Colts Jersey , carefully plans his calendar in a bid to maintain his unbeaten records and fans turning up or tuning in for a Diamond
League meeting will often find him running in the 200 meters if the cream of the
world's sprinting crop are lining up over 100.
It also hardly helps develop global appeal when half or more of an international field line up to race in identical sponsors' kit.
"We have to address that - in fact we were discussing exactly that issue in the council meeting last week," Coe told Reuters.
"We must not confuse a one-day event with our championships, but it is all about presentation if we want young people to engage in our sport."
Coe will fight tooth and nail to protect the position of athletics within the Olympic movement but he accepts that the mass of activity on and around the
track can be hugely confusing to the uninitiated and says the sport needs to do
much more to help guide and explain to the viewers, both live and on TV.
"I was sitting in front of a group of sponsors at our European championships in Zurich this year and asked them if there was anything in the last half hour
they'd understood," he said.
"The answers were very interesting. Spectators need to be drawn in Tarell Basham Colts Jersey , feel a connection with what they are watching and, crucially, know what they are watching is rooted in trust and integrity.
"While there is no need for panic, the status quo is simply not an option."
Are you looking for a place of stay investment in wonderful city in Singapore? Then look no further. Our site offers you all you may need to secure
a comfortable residence in Singapore. You do not need to be residing in
Singapore before you can buy yourself an exclusive condo. All you need to do is
visit our site today and see for yourself all the most beautiful things in the
world. We offer you all the exciting residential buildings in Singapore
including pictures to enable you appreciate the wonderful and awesome work of
architectural designs.
However, the environment where these new launch and new property are situated cannot be underestimated. These beautiful
buildings are surrounded by powerful landscaping and natural features. Do you
wish to live in an apartment open to natural scenario such as hills Quincy Wilson Colts Jersey , sea, garden or waterfall then, you are in the right site where you can make your choice of new launch Singapore. It may
interest you to know that we also have new launch condos situated in the heart
of cities which is now a matter of few steps away from your working area. You
can as well get your necessary items at your door step without moving an inch
out of your house.
Visit our site today for direct developer quotes. You can contact us by sending a message across and we will definitely get back to ?s to our site view their pages. We also use this medium to rate
investment property Singapore and we do this to actually bring the very best
across to you. As a matter of fact, the best and exclusive condos can only be
seen in our sit. Authentic NFL Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Soccer Jerseys Cheap Custom NHL Jerseys From China Authentic MLB Jerseys From China Soccer Jerseys Free Shipping Adidas NHL Jerseys Free Shipping MLB Baseball Jerseys China Hockey Jerseys From China Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys Free Shipping ? ?
