I don’t know whether to treat this news as Christmas in July or pie-in-the-sky. But IAAF presidential candidate Sergey Bubka has announced that he’d throw money at WMA and even give IAAF a role in age-group records vetting. This could be huge. It’s also a sign of how desperate Sergey is in his race against Lord Sebastian Coe, the other IAAF’er looking to succeed Lamine Diack. Trying to win masters support is like hoping to gain a hundredth of a second advantage in the 100-meter dash. Not that big. In any case, the news broke Sunday with this post out of Paris.

Of course, I’m thrilled that Sergey has uttered the M-word. But I haven’t seen Seb’s thoughts on masters track. Maybe we could spark a bidding war. Old guys and gals rule in IAAF, too, I guess. Stay tuned.

Here’s the original wording, which also got picked up by Around the Rings and other sites.

MASTERS ATHLETICS SHOULD RECEIVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT, SAYS BUBKA

Paris, July 5, 2015 – IAAF Vice President Sergey Bubka has vowed to provide support program to ensure further development of masters’ athletics movement, if he wins the IAAF Presidency election in August 2015.
Bubka believes that masters’ athletics is an integral part of the sport and the global social mission of healthy lifestyle and harmonious well-being.

He said: “Our sport fits every age, either for practice and fitness training or for the competitions. Look what a great potential our sport has! We have recently enjoyed the performances at World School Championships in Wuhan, China, but now we are already looking forward to World Masters Championships to be held in Lyon, France in August. I truly admire men and women aged 30, 40, 50 and older, viagra online both retired athletes and newcomers, who dedicate their lives to our sport performing at the international level within national masters’ teams. IAAF should provide maximum opportunities for the masters’ athletics to grow and develop ensuring more elderly people are involved in sport”.

Bubka urges that IAAF must provide more support for World Masters Athletics to organize and administer competitions worldwide. He said: “We must keep on encouraging the integration between Masters Athletics and IAAF Affiliates across the world through the IAAF Masters Commission. I pledge to support the WMA Championships and other international masters’ athletic competitions, which are the inestimable example for the youth and great promotion of Athletics worldwide.

‘We will ratify and register world masters’ five-year age-group records and maintain data on other outstanding athletic performances by masters. I believe that IAAF and WMA teamwork will help involve more nations into regional, national and international masters’ competitions.”

Bubka says the support of the World Masters Association’s events and initiatives will benefit the IAAF and the sports in general in terms of promotion of sport, as well as provide enhanced opportunities for sponsorship, improve access to government funding programs, and assist in facilities’ development.

“The development of masters’ athletics in all possible ways including special Masters’ coaching and education programs is a part of my ‘Taking Athletics to the new Heights’ program. My vision is clear that growth of masters’ athletics is one of the priorities for the global success of our sport”.

Sergey Bubka is a candidate for the Presidency of the IAAF, and the election will be held in August 2015 during the IAAF Congress in Beijing, China.

Like this post? Dig this site? Please donate. (And here’s why.)