IAAF President Lamine Diack (© Getty Images)
IAAF President Lamine Diack, today attended the Congress of the Oceania Athletic Association which was held at Broadbeach on Australia’s Gold Coast.
President Diack officially opened the Congress having first been welcomed by the Mayor of the Gold Coast, Ron Clarke, one of the world’s greatest distance runners of the 1960’s.
During his welcome, Mayor Clarke presented to President Diack a signed photograph of a famous moment in sporting history when that other great Australian athlete, John Landy, stopped racing to assist the fallen Clarke and then went on to win the Australian Mile Championship. That single action has been recognised as one of the finest examples of sportsmanship in track and field history.
During the Congress, President Diack presented badges of office to the newly elected members of the OAA Council: Geoff Gardner, President (NFI), Titaua Maurin (PYF), Robin Eugenio (NMA), Filimoni Vuli Waqa (FIJ), Lalau Willie Fong (SAM), Trevor Spittle (NZL) and Danny Corcoran (AUS). At the same time, OAA President, Geoff Gardner presented a badge of office to President Diack who is an ex-officio member of the OAA Council. The new Council will meet for the first time on Monday 19 February 2007.
In one further election, current IAAF Area Representative for the Oceania Area, Bill Bailey from Australia, was re-elected for another four year term having been nominated by each of the 19 Member Federations in the Oceania Area Group. Bailey also continues as an ex-officio member of the OAA Council.
During the Congress, the IAAF President reiterated his intention to stand for election for the IAAF presidency for one further term. In response, the following motion was from the floor of the Congress: “The Member Federations of the Oceania Area Group enthusiastically support the candidacy of IAAF President Lamine Diack for a further term in office”. The motion was carried by acclamation by all delegates.
IAAF