BANGKOK (Thailand): The Olympic Council of Asia president HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah praised the role of World Athletics President Sebstian Coe over the past five years in overcoming a lot of problems.
At the seminar, entitled “Athletics in the Eyes of the Media” and conducted out of Bangkok, Thailand, Sheikh Ahmad spoke of the challenges that lay ahead for track and field in particular and for the sports movement in general due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Thanks to his (Coe) leadership and the solidarity in the track and field movement, and that the time was right for the outstanding athletic performances to now dominate the headlines as opposed to the negative aspects of the sport in the recent past,” said Sheikh Ahmed.
Asian Athletics Association (AAA) President Dahlan Al Hamad of Qatar and Coe were among the speakers at the AAA on-line seminar, which was opened by on Monday.
“Let us be positive; let us work together; let us have better communication and work to see what are the needs for the future,” said Sheikh Ahmad. “With our history and experience we can build our future together.”
He said the priority for the media, broadcasting and marketing partners was to focus on athletes, youth and the audience. This would ensure the success of the sport in the future, he said.
Sheikh Ahmad said the coronavirus pandemic had caused a lot of damage economically, socially and also to the sports world and that everyone involved in the sport, including the media, needed to build a new future, from next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo through to 2030.
