Athletics South Africa (ASA) recently announced their active support for World Athletics’ unprecedented campaign to gather feedback and set the future strategy for athletics across the world.
The campaign, named a ‘Global Conversation for the Future of Athletics’, offers the opportunity for all those with an active interest in the sport to share their opinion on the steps that need to be taken by World Athletics and its 214 Member Federations, including South Africa.
The result of the feedback, once compiled, will be the establishment of the World Plan for World Athletics 2022-30, which will set out the roadmap for the growth and development of athletics during this eight-year period.
For ASA, the outreach campaign offers a unique opportunity to find key areas of growth for the sport in South Africa. Over the coming weeks, the organisation will arrange a group of initiatives with key stakeholders designed to encourage and facilitate unprecedented levels of feedback.
This includes participation in a global survey on Athletics. Whether you are an athlete, coach, sponsor, volunteer, or a fan, ASA wants to hear your perspective on the future of the sport, with all areas under discussion.
The compilation of the feedback, and ongoing outreach, will be led by World Athletics’ World Plan Working Group, chaired by Willie Banks and supported by all 214 Member Federations. The World Plan will then be finalised within 2021 by the World Athletics Council before being put forward for approval by the World Athletics Member Federations at the 53rd World Athletics Congress in November 2021.
On the launch of the outreach campaign, World Athletics President Seb Coe stated: “This is a monumental time in the future of global Athletics. As the international governing body, we want to base our future plans on the experiences and knowledge of our vast Athletics community and it is only right that we give everyone with an active interest in our sport the chance to give their views and insights. We are in a remarkable period of change in society, and one that presents challenges but also new opportunities for Athletics. By taking stock and listening to all those involved with Athletics at every level, we can ensure that together we are ready to fulfil such opportunities and continue to strive.”
Aleck Skhosana, the President of Athletics South Africa said: “This is an open conversation with all stakeholders. We ask our athletes (elite and otherwise), coaches, technical officials, Member Provinces and Associate Members, clubs, volunteers, Athletes Representatives (ARs), sponsors, the public and all our internal teams including federation employees to spare time to share with us ideas to take the sport forward.
“We live in a new era that forces us to now look at everything in a different way. We are forced to take stock of where we’ve come from, how we have been doing things and adopting a fresh approach moving forward. Thus we ask you, all of you, to add your voice to better the sport we all love.”
To give your views, click here.
