News13 Aug 2005


IAAF Ambassadors Klüft and Ferguson call for a Better World

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IAAF Ambassadors Carolina Klüft and Debbie Ferguson at the Athletics for a Better World Exhibition (© Getty Images)

Double Heptathlon World champion Carolina Klüft of Sweden together with former Olympic sprint relay champion Debbie Ferguson of Bahamas supported a newly introduced IAAF humanitarian project, Athletics for a Better World in Helsinki.

Respectively the European and American ambassadors for the project, Klüft and Ferguson have enthusiastically embarked on this initiative which aims at gathering as many athletics related items as possible, auctioning them to the general public at the end of the year and eventually donating all benefits to the IAAF’s United Nations partners: the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme and UNICEF.

Gathered in the Olympic Museum which has hosted a unique exhibition for the past two weeks, Ambassadors Klüft and Ferguson praised the initiative of the IAAF and explained how important it was for them to give back.

“Athletics is just a small part of my life,” said Klüft. “I feel like I have many other duties in this world and primarily humanitarian issues. I feel honoured to have been chosen as one of the IAAF’s Ambassador for what is a fantastic initiative.”

Already a Goodwill Ambassador for the FAO, Ferguson has been an active supporter of humanitarian issues for several years now.

“There are so many things that we can do to make this planet a Better World,” said Ferguson. “We all have to stand united and fight for all of the children around the world never to starve and never to suffer.”

Among the newly crowned Helsinki World champions who have already donated towards Athletics for a Better World are double gold medallist Justin Gatlin of the US who handed the body suit he wore when winning the 100m final, Tonique Williams-Darling who donated her 400m gold medal winning suit and Shot Putter Adam Nelson who autographed his vest and bib for the IAAF.  

Other ambassadors of the project are Beatrice Faumuina for Oceania who was fourth in the Discus Throw final, World Marathon record holder Paul Tergat for Africa and Koji Murofushi for Asia who withdrew from the 10th IAAF World Championships through injury.

 

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