President Diack “Jamaican Athletes have been outstanding role models and a credit to World Athletics.”

IAAF President Lamine Diack gave his traditional press conference this morning on the eve of the IAAF/Coca Cola World Junior Championships and recalled the great contribution made by this Caribbean island to the sport of athletics

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the official Press Conference on the occasion of the 2002 edition of the IAAF Coca-Cola World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica.

Since the first edition of the World Juniors in Athens back in 1986, this competition has given talented youngsters the chance to gain valuable experience of international competition, and to get a taste of the excitement and personal satisfaction that are the rewards of top class athletics.

44 athletes who competed in the 1990 edition of the World Champs in Plovdiv have gone on to become World and Olympic champions.

13 World Junior Champions from the 1992 event in Seoul, including the likes of Haile Gebrselassie, Ato Boldon and Gabriela Szabo, have gone on to become senior World Champions.

The IAAF’s strategy has been to ensure that senior athletes have experience of either the World Juniors or our World Youth Championships for under 18 year-olds.

Indeed, most of those athletes who were crowned World Youth Champions last year in Debrecen, Hungary, will start as favourites here in Kingston.

As for Jamaica, I am pleased to announce that 1,129 athletes from 167 member federations are ready to try the new Mondo track in the National Stadium.

Over the past 50 years, Jamaica has maintained an amazing sporting record, winning more Olympic, World and Commonwealth medals than would normally be expected of a country of 2.6 million people. There have been cricketers, boxers, footballers and weight lifters, but above all, there have been great athletes.

I do not want to list all the outstanding Jamaican athletes that have brought fame to their country since the late 1940s, simply because it would take me too long!

Let me just say that from the days of Herb McKenley in the 1950s to Veronica Campbell, who won a 100m/200m double at the last IAAF Coca-Cola World Juniors in the year 2000, Jamaican athletes have been outstanding role models, and a credit not just to their country but to world athletics.

I am delighted that the first ever IAAF World Athletic Series competition is now being held in this sports loving country – and I am also pleased that the competition is for Juniors because some 50% of Jamaicans are below the age of 20. The decision to award the event to Jamaica can also be seen as part of the IAAF’s desire to help the sport grow outside Europe and particularly in the North American region. Jamaica 2002, follows last year’s World Championships in Edmonton, and coming events in Sherbrooke, Canada next year (The World Youth Champs) and in Los Angeles in 2006 (The World Cup).

Finally, I would like to point out two notable anniversaries: tomorrow, the IAAF celebrates its 90th Jubilee, while the Jamaican Amateur Athletics Association is 70 years old this year as well. What particularly pleases me is that – here in Jamaica – we can recall our great history but look ahead too. There is continuity also, because there are 10 Olympic medallists here either with the IAAF or as coaches and team officials. There are also 2 European Champions who have decided to put something back into the sport. On the same vein, I must add that two more Olympic champions, Donovan Bailey, and Deon Hemmings, have also decided to make a special trip to Kingston. Deon will be leading a Training Clinic for 36 local young people at 14:00 today at the Warm Up Stadium, with Grace Jackson also lending her support to that. You are all welcome to attend that event as well.

On 17 July 1912, the IAAF was founded in Stockholm with just 17 countries as Members. Today, the IAAF has grown into the world’s biggest sporting association with 210 Members, and while it may also have become a multi-million dollar business that appeals to multi-national sponsors and TV companies, will always have a sporting soul. We exist for the benefit of athletes like the young people whose performances you will be reporting about over the next 6 days.

Thank you for your attention.”