IAAF doesn’t know masters from a hole in the ground
I guess the Monaco Mother Ship can have its senior moments, too. The International Association of Athletics Federations, or IAAF, refers to WMA as the “World Masters Asssociation” in its latest PDF newsletter, dated May 31. Common mistake, I guess, but not one you’d expect from the grand poohbahs of world track and field.
The newsletter had a picture of the committee and this text:
“The IAAF Masters’ Committee met for their annual
meeting on 16 May in Vila Real de Santo Antonio,
Portugal, where the participants had been attending the
EVAA (European Veteran Athletics Association) 2005
Non-Stadia Championships – 12-15 May 2005.
“World Masters’ Association (WMA) President and
Committee Member, Torsten Carlius presented his
report on behalf of his Association for the last time in the
capacity of President of the organization. According to
the WMA Constitution he cannot present himself for
another mandate, and 4 other members of the WMA
Executive will not be renewing their mandates for the
same reason.
“The August 2005 Congress in San Sebastian, Spain,
will decide the new executive, and Carlius will be
standing for the post of General Secretary at those
elections.
“Photo: Masters’ Committee – IAAF General Secretary Istvan
Gyulai (3rd from left), Torsten Carlius (4th from left), Masters’
Committee Chairman and IAAF Council Member Cesar Moreno
Bravo (centre – 8th from left).”
OK now. Can anyone tell me what IAAF does for WMA (World Masters Athletics)? Yeah, yeah, they send us something like $40,000 for a year or two. That’s chump change for this rich group. And yeah, they’re allowing the Helsinki world championship meet organizers to contest some masters exhibition events this summer.
But I never hear what the IAAF Masters Committee does besides pose for pictures in an IAAF newsletter (and on the home page of the WMA Web site).
Can anyone enlighten me?
