12 LEGENDS WIN IAAF ATHLETICS HERITAGE PLAQUE

MONACO – IAAF President Sebastian Coe has announced 12 legends as inaugural winner of the IAAF World Athletics Heritage Plaque.

The 12 legends were selected from locations covering all six IAAF continental areas. They are Emil Voigt (GBR) – Manchester Harriers & Athletics Club, Manchester, Eric Lemming (SWE) / IAAF Foundation 1912 – Stockholm Olympic stadium, Stockholm, Paavo Nurmi (FIN) – Paavo Nurmi Games & Stadium, Turku, Mildred Didrikson (USA) – Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum, Beaumont, Texas, Chuhei Nambu (JPN) – Meiji Jingu Gaien Nikoniko Park, Tokyo, Jesse Owens (USA) – Ferry Field, University of Michigan Wolverines, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Fanny Blankers-Koen (NED) – Fanny Blankers-Koen Games & Stadium, Hengelo.

Others are Emil Zatopek (CZE) – Golden Spike & M?stský Stadion, Ostrava, Adhemar Da Silva (BRA) – Centro Esportivo e de Lazer Tietê, Sao Paulo, Betty Cuthbert (AUS) – Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust, Sydney, Abebe Bikila (ETH) – Abebe Bikila Stadium, Addis Ababa and Irena Szewinska (POL) – Stadion Zawiszy Imienia, Bydgoszcz.

Speaking at the event, Coe described the IAAF World Athletics Heritage Plaque as a location-based recognition which highlights, celebrates and links together iconic and historic athletics competitions, careers, performances, cities, venues, landmarks and culture around the world.

He said a uniquely designed plaque will be permanently and publicly displayed at a location closely associated with each recipient.

“On the same principle that London’s world-famous blue plaque scheme celebrates notable people who have lived and worked in the British capital, the IAAF World Athletics Heritage Plaque sets out to recognise an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of athletics… This new award offers us the flexibility to honour locations across our multi-layered global sport,” said Coe.

He said, there would be no point in us placing plaques on the wall of every Olympic stadium. “Instead we are looking to highlight lesser known locations associated with equally outstanding performances.”

“Many of the stadiums and tracks which we recognise today have already vanished and these plaques will be a permanent reminder of the incredible athletics deeds which took place at those locations.”

According to him, Japan’s Chuhei Nambu is the only man ever to have held the world record in both horizontal jumps. He set his long jump record in 1931 in the Meiji Jingu stadium which is now long since demolished.

“In fact, two stadiums have since been built on that spot. This is the site where the former National Stadium, which hosted the 1964 Olympic Games, stood. That is also now gone and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic stadium is now rising in its place.

“Likewise Ferry Field, where Jesse Owens famously set four world records in 45 minutes on one afternoon in 1935, is also in transition mode. Modern athletics facilities have now been opened elsewhere in Ann Arbor as the new home of the University of Michigan Wolverines’ track and field team.

“The launch of this award is an exciting day for our sport as we begin to link together the competitions, personalities and performances worldwide which have played an important role in athletics rich history. It is important for our sports future that we recognise that legacy.”