Dahlan Al Hamad to run for IAAF vice-president

Dahlan Al Hamad

Doha, Feb 17 (IANS)

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) vice-president Dahlan Al Hamad said that he will re-contest for the post in the elections later this year. The Qatar Athletics president added that he will also re-contest for the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) where he is currently the president, reports Xinhua.

Al Hamad has been an IAAF Council Member since 2003 and vice-president since 2007. Also, after serving the AAA as senior vice-president for seven years, he was elected president in 2013.

Among the initiatives Al Hamad has introduced during his tenure as AAA president was the creation of a five-year strategic plan, the organisation of numerous training programmes in various countries, mainly for those who are facing financial problems, the agreement to bring all Asian federations under the umbrella of the Qatar-based 'Aspire', the promotion of beach athletics, the creation of preparation camps for all federations in China in order to assist poor countries, and the agreements signed with Oceania and the Balkan Athletics Association for exchange programmes. Furthermore, AAA managed to generate additional income from sponsors.

"I believe that it is time for Asia to be at the centre-stage and this task can be achieved by creating and delivering a new athletics concept. No matter who the next IAAF president will be, we have to start innovating world athletics and the main means are by focusing on youth by inspiring and engaging them. If I will be re-elected IAAF vice-president, I will concentrate on that direction," said Al Hamad.

Al Hamad is convinced that a further expansion of athletics worldwide seems feasible if all will act dynamically by implementing a few simple but very important steps.