Lord Coe looks poised to become the most powerful man in world athletics after Lamine Diack confirmed that he would be stepping down as president of the International Association of Athletics Federations in 2015 and would be recommending a successor without the need for an election.
Diack, who turned 80 in June, did not reveal the name of his chosen heir though Coe, with whom he has forged a close bond during their battle to ensure an athletics legacy for the Olympic stadium, was sitting next to him in a London hotel on Saturday as the veteran Senegalese outlined his retirement plans.
There had been speculation that Diack might seek a fourth four-year term at the IAAF Congress in Beijing in 2015 but he insisted he it was time to pass the baton to someone younger.
“In Beijing I will give the flag to someone else,” said Diack. “I will be 82 in 2015. There is no way that I will continue. No chance. I dream of having a wonderful rocking chair and writing two or three books.”
Coe, the British Olympic Association chairman, has made no secret of his desire to take over the running of the world governing body, though fellow IAAF vice-president Sergei Bubka, the pole vault world-recorder and 1980 Olympic champion, is known to harbour similar ambitions.
However, in keeping with IAAF tradition, Diack said he hoped to avoid a contested presidential election by announcing his choice as successor and asking the Congress to support his recommendation.
“I will say who must be my successor and the reason why,” said Diack. “Then the house can decide whether they want to follow or not. If they say yes, then OK. If not, I will organise a fair competition, but expecting the one I believe to the best will win.”
History suggests Diack will get his way since there has never been a contested election for the IAAF presidency.
IAAF insiders says Diack has huge respect for Coe’s work, not just in delivering arguably the greatest ever athletics championship at last year’s Olympics but in fighting for the sport’s legacy when Tottenham proposed to bulldoze the Olympic stadium and replace it with a football-only venue.
Diack said the decision to keep the track was justified by the sight of sell-out crowds for this weekend’s Anniversary Games. “This country has done a lot for our sport,” he said. “In 2005, I told Seb his job was to make a successful Games and it was wonderful to celebrate this anniversary occasion and find the same atmosphere that we had during the Olympics.”
On the track at the Olympic Stadium Mo Farah led another ‘Super Saturday’ for Britain as memories were reignited in a party atmosphere at the Anniversary Games. Farah breezed to a 3,000 metres victory and now looks in good shape for his attempts at the 5,000 and 10,000m double at the world championships in Moscow next month.
“I wanted to make the fans proud. I’m in great shape so it’s going well for Moscow,” Farah said.
Jessica Ennis-Hill made a welcome return to action but the Olympic heptathlon champion Ennis-Hill offered few clues as to whether she will be fit to compete in Moscow after putting her injured Achilles tendon to the test.
“I’m frustrated, I need to speak to my coach and have a think. I’m running out of time a bit,” she said.