28 January 2015, Kyiv, Ukraine – IAAF Vice President Sergey Bubka has today announced his decision to stand as a candidate for the Presidency of the IAAF later this year.
This announcement is being made in accordance with the Ukraine Athletic Federation Executive Committee decision and following recommendations of colleagues and friends from the Athletics family.
After a distinguished career as an athlete, Bubka has served for the past 15 years in various senior positions at the IAAF, IOC and Ukraine National Olympic Committee and has always been an advocate for the development of athletics and other sports worldwide.
Bubka said: “I am seeking the IAAF Presidency to give something back to the world of athletics which has given so many opportunities to me throughout my life.
“I have been honoured to serve athletics alongside Lamine Diack, with my colleagues and friends. Now that Mr.Diack has decided to step down as President, I wish to build upon the progress achieved by the IAAF under his leadership to ensure that the sport of athletics and its governing body are world-class and an example to others with regard to governance, transparency and ethics.
“We also need to provide greater grassroots support to inspire the next generation of athletes; we need to better engage with young people and build new audiences; and we need to ensure protection of clean sport.”
Bubka has a wide range of experience having been an IAAF Council Member since 2001 and Vice-President since 2007.
Other positions he has held include being a member of IAAF Competition Commission (2003-), Athletes Commission (2001-), IAAF Development Commission (2007-) and currently its Chairman, Chairman of IAAF World Championships Evaluation and Coordination Commissions. Within IOC he is an IOC Member since 1999 and member of the IOC Executive Board, Chairman of the Evaluation and Coordination Commissions of the Youth Olympic Games (2010), Chairman of the Entourage Commission and Member of the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 as well as holding the role of NOC of Ukraine President since 2005.
He has held a number of other roles including: being founder and director of a sports club since 1990 that provides opportunities for young people; and as a UNESCO Ambassador; Member of UNDP – UN Development Programme; Laureus Academy Founding Member and Lifetime Achievement Award winner; IAAF Hall of Fame Member; The Best pole vaulter of the last half century by Track & Field News (1991); L’Equipe Champion des Champions 1997; as a businessman; Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution at the International Sports Event Management (ISEM) Awards.
Bubka set the World Record in pole vault 35 times and won six consecutive World Champions, four times indoor World Champion, winner in European Champion, World Cup and Europe Cup Winner as well as Olympic gold owner.
The IAAF Presidential election will be held in August during the IAAF Congress in in Beijing, China.
