Athletics is alive, strong, Coe says

RIO De Janeiro: IAAF President Sebastian Coe, pictured, gave a ringing endorsement to the Olympic athletics programme on Saturday, acclaiming a “remarkable week” that showed athletics is “alive and incredibly strong”.
Speaking at a news conference ahead of the last full night of competition, Coe accepted there had been disappointing crowds and scheduling challenges but insisted increased website traffic was an indicator of sustained interest in the sport.
“This has been a remarkable week,” he said. “Before tonight we have had three world records, 10 area records, nine Olympic records and 93 national records.
“Athletics here has enthralled and entertained. Our sport is alive and incredibly strong.”
Pressed to address the poor crowds, which have routinely seen the 60,000 Olympic Stadium barely a quarter full in the mornings and showing many empty seats in evening sessions, Coe accepted there had been issues.
A combination of the local organising committee and TV preferences seems to have overruled the IAAF when it came to scheduling, while ticketing prices have deterred a local audience with little tradition for athletics.
“We have to realistic about numbers, there have been sessions where I would like to have seen more people,” Coe said. “But we have had good crowds and in the digital space, it’s gone through the roof, that shows a real passion.” – Reuters