By Uzor Odigbo
President of the International Associations of Athletics Federation(IAAF), Lord Sebastian Coe, has assured host countries of the world body’s assistance in copping with competition difficulties.
The assurance came on the heels of hicups associated with developing countries in copping with hosting successful competitions.
In a media chat with journalists in Asaba, Delta State venue of the Africa Senior Athletics championship, the IAAF boss said he understands the difficulties developing countries had to face in organing a successful athletics championships and will find the means to assuage some of these challenges.
“I personally appreciats these difficulties and I would see what can be done in helping countries to avoid them”
The IAAF boss didn’t specify the measure of assistance that would be rendered to such host countries.
He however congratulated the governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa for making the hosting of the championships possible in the state.
According to him, if there’s no willingness to assist in the provision of facilities such as these, young athletes would not be discovered and sports benefits would be hindered.
He however appealed to all concerned to support the sport by always acting on the positives and encourage those sacrificing funds and time to assist the sports to grow.
He assured that his desire after taking office as IAAF President was to ensure that Africa played host to the priemier IAAF World Athletics Championships in ten years, adding that the Africa area office will determine the host country.
Speaking in the forum, AAC president, Kalkabar, solicited for media support for Asaba 2018 championships, insisting that media support will go a long way in making development and growth of the sports possible.
Asaba 2018 Championship had taken-off fine and would need the support of everyone to succeed.
The LOC chairman Solomon Ogba however apologized to all who had issues with the initial hicups associated with the championships. He promised that henceforth, the difficulties would be amicably resolved.