- Read on for English and French language versions of this story - La traduction française suit le texte anglaisThe IAAF will be represented by Esther Fittko and former world and European 10km race walk gold medallist Sari Essayah at the 6th World Conference on Women and Sport, which begins in the Finnish capital Helsinki on Thursday (12).Fittko is a member of the IAAF Women’s Committee and Essayah is a member of the IAAF Race Walking Committee.The conference will bring together the world's leading women in sport, and other areas of public life and female diplomats are set to convene in Helsinki.IOC president Thomas Bach, UNESCO director general Irina Bokova and IOC athlete's commission chair Claudia Bokel are among the key speakers at the conference which lasts until Sunday.About 800 delegates from approximately 100 countries are expected to attend the conference, which will take place in Helsinki's Finlandia Hall. Discussions will take place on a variety of topics related to the role of women in sport and to gender equity. IAAF*****Fittko et Essayah représentent les intérêts de l’IAAF à&nbsp; l’occasion de la 6e Conférence mondiale sur les Femmes et le sportL’IAAF sera représentée par Esther Fittko et 
l’ancienne championne d’Europe et du monde&nbsp; du 10km marche, Sari 
Essayah, à l’occasion de la 6e Conférence mondiale sur les Femmes et le sport, qui s’ouvre ce jeudi (12) à Helsinki, la
 capitale de la Finlande.Fittko est membre du Comité des femmes de l’IAAF et Essayah membre du Comité de marche de l’IAAF.
La conférence réunira à Helsinki
 des femmes, issues de l’univers sportif et d’autres secteurs de la vie 
publique, parmi les plus en vue dans le monde. De nombreuses femmes 
diplomates seront également présentes.
Le président du CIO, Thomas Bach, la directrice 
générale de l’UNESCO, Irina Bokova, et la présidente de la Commission 
des athlètes du CIO, Claudia Bokel, seront parmi les intervenants 
principaux de la conférence, qui se termine dimanche.
Quelque 800 délégués d’environ 100 pays sont attendus pour cet événement, qui se déroule dans le Finlandia Hall de Helsinki.Les discussions porteront notamment sur le rôle des femmes dans le sport et sur l’égalité des sexes.
IAAF

The IAAF will be represented by Esther Fittko and former world and European 10km race walk gold medallist Sari Essayah at the 6th World Conference on Women and Sport, which begins in the Finnish capital Helsinki on Thursday (12).

Fittko and Essayah represent IAAF interests at the 6th World Conference on Women and Sport

Climate Crisis

Three-quarters of athletes directly impacted by climate change, World Athletics survey finds

<h1> What is Athletics for a Better World? </h1>
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/61499175051b00b7318b9c30.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />
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<h2>Athletics is the world&rsquo;s sport &ndash; nothing is more simple or universal.</h2>
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<h2>This means accepting a global responsibility to use the power and reach of athletics to make a positive difference.&nbsp;</h2>
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That's the driving force behind our landmark social responsibility programme, Athletics for a Better World (ABW), which harnesses the commitment and energy of the worldwide athletics family to inspire lasting change across all segments of the sport and the society that embraces it.
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Propelled by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and united under a common brand, the ABW platform promotes all World Athletics projects that seek to use athletics as a tool for social good. In recent years those have included:
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<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">embedding sustainability into our events and headquarters operations, driven by the <a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Sustainability Strategy</a>, designed to balance the economic, social and environmental impact of our activity to ensure we meet the needs of today&rsquo;s generation without compromising the needs of future generations;</li>
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/air-quality" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Air Quality</a>&nbsp;project, a broad campaign to raise awareness about air pollution around the world and the impact it has on elite athletes and recreational runners;&nbsp;and</li>
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">support for the world's only year-round <a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/athlete-refugee-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Athlete Refugee Team</a>, providing high level training and competitive opportunites to athletes who have fled violence, conflict and injustice at home.</li>
</ul>
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Social responsibility is a key element of the World Athletics Strategic Plan and we are ready to activate a worldwide network of Area Associations, Member Federations, local organising committees, athletes, volunteers, families, sponsors and other public institutions who believe in the values of our sport. Social Responsibility also allows athletics to be seen as more than just 'another performance-driven sport' but as something with much more to offer - a true vehicle thorugh which to help build a better world.
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World Athletics will provide the leadership so that our stake holders can add value to their own work by concentrating the synergies of projects in the fields of health, environment, social inclusion and peace.
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<h4><a style="color: #ff873c;">Health</a></h4>
Mass athletics participation activities which contribute to creating a healthier, fitter society, especially for young people.
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<h4><a style="color: #ff873c;">Environment</a></h4>
A healthy environment is the foundation of a healthy society which underpins a resilient economy. World Athletics will support projects which are sustainable and use our sport to show respect for the world&rsquo;s precious natural resources, challenge some 'business as usual' practices and advocate eco-effective competition guidelines.
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<h4><a style="color: #ff873c;">Social inclusion</a></h4>
We can use athletics to bring people together and to help overcome the challenges caused by social inequality.
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<h4><a style="color: #ff873c;">Peace</a></h4>
By working with external partners, we can ensure there is awareness and advocacy for using sport to bring peace to areas of conflict.

IaafNews12 Jun 2014

Fittko and Essayah represent IAAF interests at the 6th World Conference on Women and Sport