(ATR)Former Olympic pole vault champion Sergey Bubka revealed his plan to put athletics on top of the sports world during a live Google Hangout session.
Bubka, who announced his candidacy for IAAF president in January, outlined his intentions if elected while fielding questions during the one-hour session on Wednesday that was seen live on YouTube.
The 51-year old Ukrainian emphasized engaging youth, developing new revenue streams on a global level, zero tolerance against doping, enhancing cooperation with the IOC, implementation of technology and plans to create a CEO position within the IAAF.
"I want to re-establish athletics as the most exciting, accessible and inspirational global sport for every generation and whose stars are role models for youngsters," Bubka said in his opening address.
"Athletics needs to offer the finest stadium and television experiences, providing opportunities to watch across all media platforms to attract the world’s finest sponsors.
The pole vault legend added: "My program is based on collaboration. We have to work together. The role of the IAAF and its president is to serve the sport, and it is only right that the member federations help shape the presidential mandate."
Bubka, who is in his third term at the helm of the Ukrainian NOC and is an IAAF vice president, is currently the lone challenger to Sebastian Coe for the IAAF presidency.
Bubka stressed his desire for further cooperation with the IOC to order to maintain athletics’ status as the top sport in the Olympics.
"Athletics and the Olympic Games are irreversibly linked and interdependent," Bubka said. " We must work closely with the IOC to ensure that athletics strengthens its position as the number one sport in the Olympic Games and that it receives the status and financial return it deserves."
As was revealed Wednesday, the eight pillars of Bubka’s candidacy for IAAF president are: develop the legacy of the sport, serve the athletics community, enhance the partnership with the IOC, transform athletics for the modern era, protect the integrity of athletes, grow commercial revenues, education and use athletics for positive global change.
In terms of growing revenues and developing new financial streams, Bubka advised of his business model.
"It would be great to establish a business commission consisting of leaders of global brands, marketing and media communities to share experience and knowledge of our sport," Bubka said. "We must run our office like a business
company, but never forget this love and passion for athletics."
Bubka also outlined his Vision 2025 – a global initiative to take athletics to "new heights."
"Vision 2025 will be the most thorough review ever taken into every aspect of athletics worldwide," Bubka said. "Specialist working groups will review thewidest range of issues and draw on the best qualified people from athletics and beyond with every national federation given the chance to contribute."
Addressing a question from Around the Rings regarding what is necessary to keep his sport hip, fun and cool to maintain the interest of a young demographic, Bubka advised:
"We are a bit concerned and must be more pro-active to promote and communicate oursport through social media and go with some new creativity. We have to listen to them and see what is interesting to them.
"This is also the second year that we will have world relays, and this is an exciting new event.
"Mixed gender competition is also very attractive, and we’ve seen this alreadyin the Youth Olympic Games," he said. "This is a direction that we must pay attention to."
Asked if Russia should be punished at the highest level for widespread dopingimplications, Bubka reiterated his zero tolerance policy.
"We can be more successful if we pay more attention and educate our athletes. This is very important for all of us.
"As chair of the IOC Entourage Commission, we discussed the issues and proposed sanctions against Russia, and of course we are pleased that WADA could implement this important issue - no acceptance for cheaters," said the
IOC executive board member.
"We must protect clean sport and clean athletes must be highlighted and promoted."
The IAAF will choose between Bubka or Coe as the successor to longtime athletics president Lamine Diack in late August in Beijing.
Written by Brian Pinelli
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