IAAF Celebrates 100th Anniversary with 100 Kids and Tirunesh Dibaba and Desiree Davila in Times Square
By David Monti
June 6, 2012
(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
NEW YORK (06-Jun) -- One hundred children who are members of the New
York Road Runners youth programs participated in a 100m relay in Times
Square this afternoon to help celebrate the IAAF's 100th anniversary.
IAAF president Lamine Diack was on hand along with New York Road
Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg to encourage the children to
not only run fast, but to seek a lifetime of physical movement and
fitness.
"Having 100 children run 100 meters to mark 100 years is an
appropriately symbolic way to celebrate the IAAF Centenary," Diack said
in a prepared statement. "The IAAF was born in 1912 and the strength of
our spirit today, as it was 100 years ago, is its appeal to the youth
of the world."
Several top athletes were also in attendance, including Ethiopian track
star Tirunesh Dibaba and American Olympic marathoner Desiree Davila.
More photos here
"Fun, lively activities for youngsters, like the one organized here in Times Square, help keep track and field connected to a new generation," Diack said as part of a speech he made today.
At the same time of the event in Times Square, the New York Road Runners
Youth Services Division held their National Running Day event at Ichan
Stadium. Twenty-five hundred children participated in a variety of
running events there, an event which Davila also attended.
More photos here
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