by Lord Coe says Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam track poses no threat to World Athletics and hopes new competition will succeed.
American Johnson, a four-time Olympic champion, launched the Grand Slam Track in June, with the championship scheduled for its inaugural season in 2025.
Big-name announcements and lucrative prizes have helped build hype around the track competition, which will focus on events ranging from the 100 meters to the 5,000 meters.
My goal as an athlete was to do things that no one had done before! Some said I couldn’t, but many said I could. My goal again with @GrandSlamTrack it’s doing things that haven’t been done. And like before, I’m motivated by all the people who say I can! 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/ytXxZrFwPD
–Michael Johnson (@MJGold) June 21, 2024
As well as a prize pool of $12.6m (ÂŁ10m), 48 contracted ‘runners’ will receive a base salary to compete in all four Grand Slams.
US cities Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles will host after the curtain-raiser in Kingston, Jamaica, while the Diamond League – the sport’s established professional circuit – will host 15 meetings again in 2025 with record prize money totaling 9.2 million (ÂŁ7.3 million). ).
“We should be reassured that we have created a landscape where people think it is worth investing in our sport,” said Coe, the current president of World Athletics, when interviewed on the Grand Slam track during a press conference.
“They weren’t doing it five years ago and they certainly weren’t doing it 15 years ago. I am very open to all kinds of innovations and investments within reason.
“It is important that we work here as collaborators and not as competitors.
“I want them to succeed and add luster to our sport. I think there is room for everyone here, as long as there is communication and coordination of the schedule.
“I don’t see it as a threat. I never saw competition as a threat. Either you work with the competition or you don’t.
“Frankly, this is an organization that welcomes all kinds of innovation. We showed that we are not afraid of that and I wish Michael success.
Coe, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500m, is currently one of seven candidates for president of the International Olympic Committee.
The successor to outgoing President Thomas Bach will be elected at the IOC Session in Athens next March.
If Coe is successful, her position at World Athletics will be immediately filled by senior vice president Ximena Restrepo.
Coe said: “Our governance and our constitution are very clear. If there were a vacancy at World Athletics, given that there is also a transition period of three and a half to four months, this role would be in the very capable hands of Ximena Restrepo.
“We know exactly what would happen, essentially what we describe as a vacancy policy.
“If someone in our governance structure steps down, we absolutely know how to replace them and move forward seamlessly, as any good organization should be structured. »
