Int'l Association of Athletics Federations presidential candidate Sergey Bubka said that athletics "will retain its prominent position despite changes" to the Olympic program that could see fewer events but more sports, according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. The Ukrainian "is taking on" Britain's Sebastian Coe in a race to become the head of the IAAF. Bubka said that "planned changes to the Olympics, allowing more sports at the expense of some events and disciplines of existing competitions, would not affect athletics." Bubka: "We are very proud to be the number one sport of the Olympics and we have a strong position within the movement." However, with a shortage of recognizable personalities, an aging audience, a "continuing struggle to attract interest" in the U.S. and the dark shadow of doping, athletics "has its work cut out." Bubka said that "it was positive for the sport that both candidates were former top athletes." Bubka: "I think it is good because you have a very good background for athletes. It means you have different kinds of experience and knowledge. This is very helpful to transfer to the success of the leadership of the IAAF" (REUTERS, 2/3).
