Yomi Omogbeja (17/09/2004)

IAAF president Lamine Diack has challenged African governments to make positive efforts to develop athletics training facilities in their countries.

Mr Diack told athletics enthusiasts around the world during a lively online discussion yesterday that “it is up to the government to make the first effort”.

“We are helping our best through the International Amateur Athletics Foundation and the IAAF to build tracks where they are needed,” he said.

Commenting on how to improve training structures, Mr Diack explained that the International Amateur Athletics Federation is doing all it could to assist.

He said: “If you mean training of the athletes, we have a wonderful development programme representing 12 million dollars a year to train coaches, administrators, doctors and even athletes, through the high performance training centres.”

The IAAF high performance training centres in Africa are situated in:

• Eldoret, Kenya
• Dakar, Senegal
• Reduit, Mauritius.

El.G and Bekele shortlisted

Athens Olympic champions Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco have both been short-listed for the 2004 World Athletes of the Year award, and for their heroics in Athens, the Performance of the Year award.

The winners will be selected from five shortlists by the IAAF Foundation Council following the end of competition at the World Athletics Finals on Sunday.

The highlights of the World Athletics Gala is a worldwide Live TV Award Show at the Grimaldi Forum where over 280 of the world’s top athletics stars and many past champions will be present.

Africa's celebrated international musical star, Salif Keita of Mali will be on stage to showcase his striking vocal talent.

To vote for your African stars, please log on to the IAAF website now.