Margaret Simpson in action in the Heptathlon's Javelin Throw (© Getty Images)
Monaco“The month of October is very important strategically – not only for the athletes who sit down with their coaches to plan their training and competition schedules for next season, but also for IAAF Development in general”, stated Elio Locatelli, Director of the IAAF Member Services Department which co-ordinates the overall IAAF development strategy.
“For Federations, it is an important time of the year as well; the European Competition Calendar was decided upon in Reykjavik during the EAA Calendar Congress, and representatives of our Department travelled all over the world to make feasibility studies on training conditions, facilities, coaching etc. of venues which have asked to become an IAAF Accredited Training Centre (ATC) or a High Performance Training Centre (HPTC).”
Training Centres awaiting ATC status
Elio Locatelli visited and evaluated four Training Centres in Sochi (Russia), Kiev (Ukraine), Pretoria/Bloemfontein (both South Africa) and Reykjavik (Iceland) who are applying for an ATC status; now it is up to the Development Commission to judge their applications. Locatelli reported that the facilities at all centres were very impressive and professional and that coaches seemed to be highly motivated and knowledgeable. During his stay in Bloemfontein, a three-day coaches’ symposium took place with 160 coaches which Locatelli regarded as very encouraging seeing so many coaches being involved in the planning process for the upcoming season.
New HPTC in Kuala Lumpur
A new HPTC was opened in Kuala Lumpur in July 2005.
Olympic Solidarity Athletes Scholarship Programme “Beijing 2008”
At the end of the year following each edition of the summer Olympic Games, the Member Services Department evaluates applications sent by NOCs to Olympic Solidarity for the IOC Olympic Solidarity Athletes Scholarship Programme for the next edition of the Games. The programme for Beijing 2008 will start in January 2006 and terminates when the Games open in China. With this programme, the IAAF had the chance to grant 150 scholarships for Athens 2004.
“B” qualification programme – IAAF Scholarships
To achieve President Lamine Diack’s recently stated goal that at least one athlete of each Member Federation be capable of achieving the “B” Qualification Standard for the World Championships in Athletics or the Olympic Games, talented athletes of all disciplines will be granted scholarships paid for by the IAAF that allows them to practice at top facilities and under the supervision of very experienced coaches.
These scholarships last at least a month (short term) or 3-6 months (medium/long term) or max. 1 year depending on the development status of the according athlete. In all three cases, the IAAF will ensure access to adequate facilities and coaching either at the ATCs or at the HPTCs.
Participants of “B” qualification programme become “A” athletes
There are many success stories about athletes taking part in the IAAF B-standard project and/or to the Olympic Solidarity Programme:
Margaret Simpson (GHA), who came to the HPTC in Mauritius with a PB of 5150 points improved her PR to 6432 points winning the bronze medal at the 2005 Helsinki World Championships in the Heptathlon.
Francoise Mbango (CMR) had the opportunity to train at the HPTC Dakar and won the triple jump at the Olympic Games in Athens 2004 jumping 15.30m which was a new African record and which also placed her fourth on the all-time list. She was the first Cameroon athlete ever to win an Olympic gold medal.
Senegalese athlete Amy Mbacke Thiam trained, as did Francois Mbango, in the HPTC in Dakar. She was not only the first woman of her country ever to advance to the final of World Championships, but then became the first Senegalese female athlete to win a medal, winning gold at 400m in Edmonton in 2001.
Ezekiel Kemboi, who was offered a scholarship to train at the HPTC (Kip Keino Centre) in Eldoret, became Olympic champion in 2004 and won the silver medal in the 3000m Steeplechase at the World Championships in Helsinki 2005.
Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (KEN), who also lived and trained in the HPTC in Eldoret, greatly improved his 39th event ranking position in the 1500m in 2004 to become World Number 1 in the 1500m in 2005. He is also currently ranked Number 8 in the Overall World Rankings.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt achieved his first big international success in Kingston, the city where he trained at the HPTC. He won the 200m gold medal at the World Junior Championships in 2002 before placing 1st and 2nd in the 200m and 400m respectively at the World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke, Canada, the following year. What is even more important is that he has made the difficult adjustment to become world class at senior level – making the final of the 200m at the World Championships in Helsinki earlier this year, where he finished 8th.
Athletes’ Manager on a consultant basis
To make sure that those young talents do not over-compete and burn themselves out, the IAAF has hired Andy Norman (GBR) as a special consultant to manage all HPTC athletes in coordination with the IAAF and the coaches working in the HPTCs. But if an athlete manages to reach the World Top 20 level in his/her event, then he/she will be allowed to choose another manager with the approval of the National Member Federation. This manager must, however, accept the HPTC’s schedule concerning training and competition so that the athlete can continue to train at the HPTC.
