Dubai: Sebastian Coe, the president of International Associations of Athletics Federation (IAAF), may have disappointed the assembled mediapersons by not providing any fresh soundbites on the Russian ban — but that did not prevent him from providing inspiration for athletes for the future.
In the city as a guest for the Host Cities’ Summit, Coe enthralled the audience at a city hotel while throwing interesting questions to three young budding sports stars on the topic “Engagement and Inspiration — How should events connect with young people.”
Coe, who was here in January this year to watch the Dubai Marathon just before becoming the head of IAAF, was shielded from the media as he was whisked away on Wednesday — preventing the media from quizzing him on revoking the ban on Russian athletics.
Assuming the role of a moderator with rising youngsters Alex Hua Tian, 18-year-old Chinese Olympic Equestrian, UAE’s rising athlete Majed Rasas and Rawya Al Hajri, the co-founder of Fitfootball Kuwait, Coe was all charm and grace. Speaking to Gulf News after the session with Coe, Hua Tian said: “When I heard that Sebastian will be moderating our conversation today, I knew it was going to be a great honour. I went to a British Public School as I am half British and compete in a very British sport even though I am Chinese and represent China. For me the London Olympics was phenomenal and Beijing Olympics was amazing. Lord Coe’s involvement with London Olympics was iconic.”
Rasas said: “It was awesome to talk with such a leading figure of sports and a great sportsman. I have watched Coe as a performer on YouTube and was inspired by his competitiveness during his athletics days.”
Coe was curious to know the factors that made Tuan an Olympic star at such a young age and also the progress of Rasas. “It was about being at the right place at the right time,” Rasas said, adding he took up long jump after watching Mike Powell. “In school, I participated in long jump and then I saw Powell on television and from that day I wanted to jump as he did.”
When Coe asked participants about the influence of technology in modern sport, they insisted more technological development helped them get better. He also threw questions on the influence of social media and got to know how Twitter and Facebook are having a huge impact on modern youth.
