News02 Aug 2012


Historic splendour of London’s Guildhall hosts IAAF Dinner on eve of Athletics in London

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IOC President Jacques Rogge with IAAF President Lamine Diack and Mrs Bintou Diack (left) at the IAAF's Pre-Olympic Dinner at the Guildhall in London (© Getty Images)

The IAAF Dinner which is traditionally held on the eve of the start of the Athletics competitions at each Olympic Games was hosted by IAAF President Lamine Diack tonight in The Great Hall of the Guildhall of the City of London. The night was extra special given that 2012 also marks the 100th Anniversary of the IAAF.

The Athletics events of the Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012 begin tomorrow, Friday 3 August and conclude with the men’s Marathon to Sunday 12 August 2012; ten days of competition of the Olympics’ number one sport.

Among the 600 distinguished guests of the Olympic and Athletics family who enjoyed a spectacular evening in The Great Hall, were IOC President Jacques Rogge and IOC Vice-Presidents Thomas Bach, Nawal El Moutawakel, who is also a member of the IAAF Council, Ser Miang Ng, Craig Reedie, and fellow members of the IOC’s Executive Board. Tables were hosted by President Diack, his four Vice-Presidents Bob Hersh, Dahlan Al Hamad, Sergey Bubka and Sebastian Coe, who is Chairman of LOCOG, and IAAF Treasurer Valentin Balakhnichev, fellow members of the IAAF Council, and Honorary Life Vice Presidents and Members.

The imposing medieval Great Hall is the largest and most impressive room of the Guildhall, and was originally built in 1411. It hosts the Lord Mayor’s Banquet each year, and is where royalty and state visitors have been entertained down the centuries.

A magnificent room, the Great Hall is 152 feet long, 49.5 feet broad and 89 feet high, and is home to the colossal 9 feet high figures of the famous legendary giants Gog and Magog who were said to have founded London. The 15th century walls are 5 feet thick and divided by clustered columns and mouldings, and among its many impressive monuments are those to many British national heroes, including Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Chatham, Lord Mayor Beckford, William Pitt, and most recently Sir Winston Churchill.

Unbreakable bond

"I am delighted to be with you in this wonderful building, for the traditional IAAF Dinner before the start of the Athletics programme of the Games," said President Diack as he welcomed his distinguished guests.

"Yet, this is a very special occasion for us, because this year also marks the 100th Anniversary of the IAAF."

"On 17 July 1912, after the closing ceremony of the Stockholm Olympic Games, an international organisation known as the "International Amateur Athletics Federation" was founded by 17 members, mainly from Europe."

"And since then, the IAAF and the Olympic Movement have been linked by an unbreakable bond."

"We should never forget that until 1980 the IAAF Constitution stated that the Olympic Games was also our official World Championships and so athletics has always had a very special place in the Olympic Movement."

"In November, we will officially induct 24 legends of athletics into an IAAF Hall of Fame, but names such as Paavo Nurmi, Jesse Owens, Fanny Blankers Koen, Emil Zatopek, Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses, Sergey Bubka and of course, the LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe, achieved most of their glory on the Olympic stage."

3 million spectators

"We are very proud that Athletics can attract more than 1 million spectators in the stadium events and more than 2 million spectators in road events in the competition period of the Games."

"We are also delighted to have a natural upsurge of interest in athletics every four years for the simple reason that the summer Games are, by far, the biggest sports event on the planet."

Transformation and development of Athletics

"I am especially honoured and proud that only four other men – Sigfrid Edström, the Marquess of Exeter, Adriaan Paulen and Primo Nebiolo have held the position of IAAF president in the last 100 years."

"Back in 1912, the IAAF could fit around a couple of the tables of the Guildhall and athletics was mainly the preserve of the wealthy nations. But at the last IAAF World Championships in Daegu, teams from 200 National Member Federations took part. Sixteen nations won gold medals, forty one took medals and sixty six placed athletes in the top eight, which shows the global reach of athletics."

"Over the past century we have moved from a very strict amateurism – to professionalism. We can be proud that the IAAF has transformed itself from an organisation with an annual budget of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in the 1970s to one with an annual budget of around fifty million dollars today."

"Most of the IAAF’s income goes back into the development of our sport for the benefit of our federations and athletes."

"We have youth and junior competitions and Kids Athletics projects to attract a new generation of young people to the sport."

"As for Women’s Athletics, when women first competed at the Olympics in 1928 there were only five different events and the 800m was considered dangerous! Now men and women compete in the same events and earn identical prize money too."

"We are also proud of the work we have done in anti-doping. Since the first in-competition tests in athletics took place in 1969 the IAAF has been committed to fighting doping with determination and resolve."

"But looking to the future, we need to keep a careful balance between innovation and tradition. We must evolve, but never betray our essential values. If we fight to keep our sport attractive and relevant – and the IAAF is open to change – our future is bright."

"Athletics is passion, hard work and self-improvement. It is education and entertainment, respect for the rules and self-expression. Athletics is like life itself, with challenges and obstacles, triumphs and defeats. Over the past century we have enjoyed the performances of many famous champions but so many "ordinary" people have also entered our sport, and emerged enriched by the experience."

"That should be our greatest source of pride and of hope for the future."

Let the Games really begin

"Finally, I would like to thank the IOC and LOCOG, so brilliantly led by my colleague Lord Coe for the wonderful job of organising these Games."

"So far, London has been a superb host but as I like to say, with a smile to my colleagues from other federations, the Olympic Games really start tomorrow, with the first race in the Olympic Stadium," concluded President Diack.

Chris Turner for the IAAF
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