by Larry EderManagers speaking for changes
LISBON (POR): The sport of athletics is ready for changes and needs modernisation. This is one of the messages from the traditional fall athletics managers meeting. The 2014 AAM Annual Meeting was held this year in Lisbon, Portugal. Managers reviewed the 2014 season and discussed what is expected in 2015. In the session with the IAAF, ways of cooperation were on the table. Among guests attenduÃng were, IAAF Senior Vice President Robert Hersh, IAAF Competitions Director Paul Hardy and IAAF Legal advisor Habib Cisse. Discussion points were related to competition structures, rules, calendar and timely payments. Managers also presented new ideas for the the IAAF World Challenge series. With IAAF Diamond League organizers, the last season and several points of improving the communication with agents were discussed. Kristian Hysen of IMG gave a presentation about TV distribution and new ideas related to social media. Paul Doyle showed his plan on how to continue with the new series called the American Track League. Over 60 leading persons from the world-wide athletics family attended the meeting. The 2015 Annual Meeting was set for San Juan, Puerto-Rico.
(Editor’s note: This meeting is much more important than an annual meeting. Within this room are many of the stakeholders in the sport of athletics and road racing. There is much on the table: how to make the sport more relevant to the the billions of sports fans across the world?)
