LONDON: Outlining his vision for the future of track and field, two-time Olympic champion Sebastian Coe called on Wednesday for an overhaul of the sport’s “disjointed” competition calendar and for the creation of a global street race circuit.

Launching his bid to become president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the man who successfully delivered the London 2012 Olympic Games presented his campaign manifesto and said athletes should also enjoy greater commercial opportunities, with an overhaul of the prize money structure.

Coe, the current IAAF vice-president, hopes to succeed current president Lamine Diack, who will step down in August. His main rival is expected to be Ukrainian former pole vault champion Sergei Bubka.

Former Moroccan hurdler Nawal El Moutawakel, the first Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal, has also been tipped to stand for election.

The deadline for candidates to register for the vote is May 2015. The election will take place at the IAAF Congress in Beijing in August.

Coe, who won the 1500 metres titles at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, said the sport’s schedule needs to be revamped to make it easier for the public to understand.

“To many within and outside our sport, the world athletics calendar seems disjointed, lacks purpose, a narrative and the essential glue to build excitement and a loyal and passionate following,” Coe said.

“Many fans don’t know when the athletics season starts, when it ends, why it seems to bounce around from the USA to Europe to Asia and back again. It is confusing to spectators and viewers alike.”

Coe also called for the introduction of an “IAAF Street Athletics” circuit in major cities around the world to attract new fans.

“We can build on this through a new IAAF overseas series of events piggybacking some of the more established current one-day meetings in centres or population,” he said.

Explaining the appeal of street athletics, he said: “It’s often easier to show the athleticism of an event when it’s benchmarked against a shop window or the height of a bus. It has a reality for young people.”

Coe said prize money structures were dated and should also change for the benefit of athletes.

He said the IAAF must show greater “financial transparency” regarding the amount of appearance money and prize money that top athletes receive at one-day meetings.

“The truth is that, as a sport, we do not openly speak about the significant sums that are paid in appearance money,” he said.

“I want this election campaign to open up the discussion, to encourage voices to be heard,” he said. “Yes there are challenges but I also know there is the spirit, will and the talent within our sport to meet them.”

Published in Dawn December 4th , 2014