IAAF Release
23 October 2001 – Monte Carlo – During a ceremony in Moscow last Saturday, the President of the International Association of Athletics Federations, Lamine Diack decorated with the IAAF Silver Order of Merit three personalities – Robert Stinson (GBR), Irina Privalova (RUS) and Jack Agrios (CAN) – who in differing fields of activity have made exceptional contributions to the world athletics movement.
Robert Stinson, a talented athlete in his younger days, has for many years been a member of the IAAF Council and the Association’s Honorary Treasurer; Irina Privalova, the world record holder over 50m and 60m indoors is the current Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion; Jack Agrios QC is the man who took the IAAF World Championships to North America, and more specifically to Edmonton, Canada, for the first time, with great organisational and financial success.
All three were applauded warmly by the members of the athletics movement, with a special ovation for the decoration of Irina Privalova. Walking up to the stage in maternity clothes, the 33-year-old Russian champion assured her fans that she planned to return to competition in 2003 in time for the 9th IAAF World Championships in Paris.