Athletics needs innovative new concepts to attract new fans to the sport and IAAF President Sebastian Coe believes the Australian organisers of the new Nitro Athletics series may have a hit. The two-time Olympic champion, who became IAAF President in 2015, has been pursuing a strong reform agenda within the sport, but believes athletics must […]
via NITRO ATHLETICS IS THE INNOVATION ATHLETICS NEEDS, SAYS COE — newfanzoneblog
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana have been named the male and female World Athletes of the Year at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2016, held at Sporting Monte Carlo on Friday (2). Bolt, who won the award five times between 2008 and 2013, added to his legacy by earning the trophy for a record […]
via BOLT AND AYANA CROWNED 2016 WORLD ATHLETES OF THE YEAR — newfanzoneblog
This week marks the opening of the voting process for the 2016 World Athletes of the Year ahead of the IAAF Awards Night in Monaco on Friday 2 December 2016. The IAAF is pleased to confirm a list of 10 men and 10 women nominees who were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, […]
via NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2016 — newfanzoneblog
Multiple Award winning Tennis Star Continues to win award after award and it undoubtable that they are all well deserved, barely hours after polling the most votes to win the AP Female Athlete Of The Year Award another top media establishment L’Equipe of France has named Serena Williams as “Champion Of Champions” 2015 alongside Jamaican Sprint Legend Usain Bolt.
Voting for the Campeones de Campeones, started in 1980 and it is done by all the Journalist working at L’Equipe, the award as now become one of the most popular Sports awards across the globe.
previous winners include Tennis number one Novak Djokovic, Sergey Bubka, Zinedine Zidane, Andre Agassi, Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher, just to name a few.
The L’Equipe Champion Of Champions had been dominated by men through the years as Florence Griffith-Joyner was the only woman to have won it in 1988, In 2012 the Champion Of Champions was split into male and female categories.
This will be Serena’s Third Champion Of Champions award while Usain Bolt is winning it for the fourth time.
Usain Bolt, Ashton Eaton and Christian Taylor are the three men’s finalists for the 2015 IAAF World Athlete of the Year award.
Bolt successfully defended his 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles at the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015. The Jamaican sprinter clocked a world-leading time of 19.55 when winning the 200m.
Eaton won his second successive gold medal at the World Championships, setting a decathlon world record of 9045. Within his series, the US athlete set a world decathlon best of 45.00 for 400m.
Taylor won the triple jump title in Beijing with a North American record of 18.21m, the second-best jump in history. The US jumper also won the Diamond Race title in his event.
Last month the IAAF Family* was asked to select nine men and nine women from each of the following categories: sprints, hurdles, middle and long distance, road running, race walking, jumps, throws, combined events and multi-terrain.
The top-voted athletes in each category formed the longlist, from which an international panel of 10 experts** selected the three finalists.
Olympic legend Usain Bolt has today announced that his foundation is to become part of ‘Athletics for a Better World’, powered by the IAAF.
The Usain Bolt Foundation will join forces with Athletics for a Better World to inspire positive social change through education, cultural development and sport.
Athletics for a Better World is the IAAF’s social responsibility programme, which provides organisations and people with a platform to use the universality of athletics to make a positive difference around the world.
As part of Athletics for a Better World, the Usain Bolt Foundation will be able to utilise the IAAF’s global reach, marketing channels and sporting credibility to spread their message and reach more young people than ever before. Usain Bolt will also add his name to the 12 athlete patrons currently involved in the campaign who include Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Marie-José Pérec, Paula Radcliffe and Wilson Kipketer.
“I am very proud that the Usain Bolt Foundation is officially partnered with the IAAF’s ‘Athletics for a Better World’,” said Bolt, the world and Olympic 100m, 200m and 4x100m champion. “Since the foundation was formed I, along with all the staff and volunteers, have worked very hard to inspire kids to become anything that their heart desires. So to be given this accolade by the IAAF is a reward for all the hard work we have put in, and a great opportunity for us to develop the foundation further and inspire more young people around the world.”
Sebastian Coe, President of the IAAF, said: “I’m thrilled that the Usain Bolt Foundation is partnering with ‘Athletics for a Better World’. Together, the IAAF and Usain Bolt will not only help reach and change the lives of thousands of children through athletics but also inspire lasting social change. I know the positive impact athletics can have and what a strong role model Usain Bolt is to millions of people around the world. The combination of the two is a very powerful force and we look forward to working together and making a real difference.”
Athletics for a Better World provides a platform for organisations and people around the world – Including member federations, athletics associations, partner organisations, sponsors and athletes – that want to use athletics as a tool for social change. The aim is for these organisations to be stronger together and benefit from the IAAF’s global reach, marketing channels and sporting credibility.
The Usain Bolt Foundation aims to create opportunities through education and cultural development. The foundation has invested millions of dollars, particularly in Jamaica, into community development projects that enhance the health and education of the young people involved.
The Trelawny Stadium is to be named after Jamaican World Sprint Champion Usain Bolt.
Natalie Neita-Headley Jamaica’s Sports Minister revealed this to journalist during a press briefing, earlier today. But this will not be done until financing is available to build a track at the Stadium.
The Trelawny Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny, Jamaica which was constructed with financial support from the Peoples Republic of China in 2007, and the stadium hosted the opening ceremony of the 2007 Cricket World Cup and it was also used for a couple of warm up matches.
The Trelawny Stadium as also hosted a few football matches and this must be a huge honour for a great athlete like Usain Bolt.
There are just two weeks to go to the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 which takes place between 22-30 August.
Many of the IAAF?s 214 Member Federations have already named their teams for the most important sporting event on this year?s calendar but with the final entry deadline at midnight (Central European Time) on Monday 10 August, this weekend offers the last chance for athletes to qualify and for Member Federations to complete their squad selections.
Approximately 2000 athletes from over 200 nations are expected to compete in the Chinese capital later this month.
The USA and Jamaica have yet to formally name their teams but it is already known that global champions like Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, David Oliver, Christian Taylor, Ashton Eaton, Jenn Suhr and Brittney Reese have booked their places on the planes to Beijing.
Russia named their 71-strong team in the wake of their national championships earlier this week.
Other European nations to have named their teams include Czech Republic, France, Germany and Great Britain.
Distance running power houses Kenya and Ethiopia have also named their teams early and can expect to feature prominently on the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015 medal podiums.
The famous Bird?s Nest stadium, the centrepiece of the 2008 Olympic Games, will have a 50,000 capacity for the championships and the IAAF and Local Organising Committee have been very happy to announce recently that it will be full for each evening session, ensuring the world?s top athletics exponents get the audience they deserve.
The IAAF website has a special section devoted to the championships.
Coverage of the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 will include live results, previews, reports, features, a live blog and extensive coverage on the IAAF social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook.
Results, timetable details and the live blog will also be available in Chinese on the IAAF website and coverage will be available on Chinese social media
IAAF
Sprint Supremo Usain Bolt has pulled out of the 100 metres at the Jamaican national trials. But this would in No way affect his Eligibility to defend his world championship title in August Bolt automatically qualifies to defend his title.
It is believed Bolt’s coach Glen Mills decided that the Jamaican Sprint king should concentrate on training for the Diamond League races in Paris and Lausanne as a build up to the world championships.
Bolt has not had a particularly outstanding season so far as his 10.12sec best time is a far cry from his 2009 world record of 9.58.
A sharp Contrast to Usain Bolt’s recent performances is exactly what American athlete Justin Gatlin has had so far, and the Controversial athlete as returned the fastest time so far this year at 9.74secs and pundits are already talking up a straight battle between Bolt And Gatlin at the world championships in.
Wether this will come to pass still remains to be seen but if it happens it might be Bolt’s biggest challenge yet.
The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, will compete at the IAAF / BTC World Relays, Bahamas 2015, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) announced on Tuesday (7).
The second edition of this innovative and exciting competition takes place in Nassau, The Bahamas on the weekend of 2-3 May.
The JAAA met on Tuesday to decide the national team for the competition and selected the multiple world and Olympic champion, and world record holder, to compete on both days in Nassau.
“I’m happy to be part of the Jamaican team for the IAAF / BTC World Relays in the Bahamas. I am fit, healthy and ready to run,” commented Bolt.
“I hear the meet was a lot of fun last year and there was a great atmosphere. Jamaica has a long and successful tradition in relays and when we put on the national colours we always do our best to make the country proud,” he added.
JAAA General Secretary Garth Gayle commented, “We were extremely pleased that Usain was available for selection and that the world’s fastest man will be running for Jamaica. We can expect some sprint magic on the track in the Bahamas on 2nd and 3rd May.”
The full Jamaican team list for the competition will be announced shortly.
The IAAF / BTC World Relays is the newest addition to the IAAF’s global competition programme, and will see more than 600 athletes from around the world compete in five relay disciplines: 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m and the distance medley relay for both men and women.
At the IAAF World Relays in 2014, three world records were set and more could fall this year.
The IAAF World Relays is the biggest sporting event to be held in The Bahamas in 2015 and it will serve as a qualifying competition for the 2016 Olympic Games.
IAAF
With 500 days to go to the second Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn will reprise her role as Ambassador for the Games, which will take place in February 2016.
The American Alpine skier has a wealth of experience to share with the young athletes who will participate in Lillehammer: from winning the downhill gold at Vancouver 2010 and four overall World Cup victories to the challenges of dealing with injuries and balancing the pressures of international competition. In her role as Ambassador, Lindsey will reach not only the next generation of elite athletes, but also many other young people around the world to encourage them to get active and enjoy the benefits of sport and the learning experiences integrated throughout the Youth Olympic Games.
As the first Ambassador for the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012, Lindsey is once again committed to supporting the event along with fellow Alpine skier Kjetil Jansrud, the Norwegian Olympic super G champion who was announced as an Ambassador for Lillehammer 2016 earlier this year.
“It is amazing to be back for more Youth Olympic action! Innsbruck 2012 was such an inspirational event, not just to the young athletes there, but also for the kids watching,” Lindsey said. “It showcases, in a totally unique way, how much fun and excitement there is in winter sports. Lillehammer with its Olympic history and famous venues will provide the best experience for the athletes on and off the field of play – I am very excited to be a part of it.”
The IOC chooses Ambassadors for each edition of the Youth Olympic Games. Sporting legends such as Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Yao Ming and Michelle Wie, to name a few, have supported this campaign that is shared with the 42 million fans the IOC has on its various social media channels.
The second edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games will take place in Lillehammer from 12 to 21 February 2016. The programme will feature the seven sports on the Olympic programme plus some new editions, including team ski-snowboard cross and monobob. Off the field of play, athletes will be encouraged to take part in a unique programme of activities and workshops, including sessions on healthy eating, injury prevention, the dangers of doping and illegal betting, careers in sport and media training. All existing venues will be used from the legacy of the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach got very much into the spirit of Olympic Day today, addressing over 1,000 runners in a 5.2 km run before hosting Olympic Day celebrations at the IOC headquarters, where he called on people around the world to get physically active and enjoy the benefits of leading healthy lifestyles.
Joining President Bach for the kick-off of the 2nd edition of the Olympic Capital Run were fellow Olympians and current International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (AISTS) students Udo-Obong Enee (Nigeria, athletics), Hisham Shehab (Bahrain, aquatics), Slaven Dizdarevic (Slovakia, decathlon) and Maria Ntanou (Greece, cross-country skiing). Athens 2004 mascots Athena and Phevos and London 2012 mascot Wenlock were also on hand to help spread the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.
“We need to continue to spread the popularity of sport and particularly the Olympic Games, but simply consuming sport is not enough – we need people and particularly young people to get active. We need to get the ‘couch potatoes off the couch’ – and Olympic Day and particularly Olympic Day runs are one way we can do that,” said President Bach.
Around the world National Olympic Committees held events and Olympic Day runs to mark the day. The IOC also used its huge social network following to encourage people to ‘get off the couch’. Thousands of people took part and posted pictures of themselves taking part in sport.
After the run in Lausanne, the IOC President opened the traditional Olympic Day celebrations at the IOC headquarters. Together with Sochi 2014 half-pipe champion Iouri Podladtchikov, he unveiled a new statue of the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin.
The statue, which depicts Coubertin sitting on a stool in contemplation, has been placed under a tree – a nod to Coubertin’s well-known way of working.
The bronze statue, sculpted by Chinese artist Xikun Yuan, was a gift to The Olympic Museum from the Chinese Olympic Committee on the occasion of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
“Part of Coubertin’s genius was adapting the values of Olympism to the modern world – but he didn’t just hand us these ideas written in stone – part of his genius was to understand that we must constantly renew ourselves and update the Olympic vision,” said President Bach.
“Olympic Day is one of those occasions to show how we can remain relevant. We need to continue to promote sport. We need people and particularly young people to get active.
We need to get the couch potatoes off the couch – and Olympic Day and particularly Olympic Day Runs are one way we can do that. We have a number of Olympic Day Runs taking place today around the world organised by our National Olympic Committees. We had one here in Lausanne with hundreds of brave souls participating.”
Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris. The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.
Over the last 20 years, Olympic Day has been associated with Olympic Day Runs all over the world. From 45 participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the first edition in 1987, the numbers have grown to over 150 participating NOCs.
Last year the IOC’s cross-platform Olympic Day campaign touched some 400 million people in one way or another.
This year, the IOC hopes to surpass this number with the help of top athletes, including 18-time gold medallist Michael Phelps, Olympic champion Usain Bolt and gold medallist hammer thrower Koji Murofushi, calling on everybody to get moving and try out new sports.
To see how others got active this Olympic Day, check out our world map at www.olympic.org/olympicday, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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