Since the IAAF World Championships Paris 2003, the IAAF and the International Fair Play Committee have joined forces to present a Special Fair Play award to a Track and Field athlete for his or her outstanding achievement booth on and off the track.

Previous recipients of this award have been: Jonathan Edwards in 2003, Frankie Fredericks and Heike Drechsler in 2005, Mike Powell in 2007, Lars Riedel in 2009 and Koji Murofushi in 2011

This year the IAAF and CIFP are honoured to present this Special Fair Play Award to Igor Ter-Ovanesyan on Saturday.

Ter-Ovanesyan broke the World Long Jump record on two occasions, was a two-time Olympic Games bronze medallist and three-time European champion, and competed internationally for the Soviet Union across three decade from the 1950s through to the 1970s  

During this period, he became renowned for his friendship towards American athletes, and other competitors from across the world, showing the power of sport to transcend political differences.

Unusually for a European at this time, and especially for a Soviet athlete, he competed in the US Indoor Track & Field Championships, winning in 1963 and 1965

After his competitive career came to an end, he continued his involvement with athletics as a coach and administrator, including spending several years as a member of the IAAF Council. 

The award was presented by Mr. Lamine Diack, IAAF President and Dr. Jeno Kamuti, President of the International Fair Play Committee.

The International Fair Play Committee was established in 1963 by UNESCO, and is a recognized organization of the IOC.

IAAF