Making the sport more popular...... Why?
There is plenty of participation at all levels. It's not dying like many suggest. Numbers at the grass roots on up prove that to be wrong.
Yes, there are more sports to choose from than ever before and more time to spend on athletics/recreation worldwide and continues to grow due to many factors, education, training, nutrition, money notwithstanding. Many great athletes will go to other sports for a variety of reasons so the depth of talent could be effected/watered down but yet Track & Field records continue to be broken.
Influence, access, personal interest, personal gain. I don't think the sport is in trouble due to lack of interest. Youth coaches can improve the education of young athletes about the history of the sport and begin helping young athletes value quality of life and interest in human performance and the limitations with which they exist. They can also teach an appreciation for the special people in history that continue to push the human performance envelope and encourage them to think about what is possible in athletics and other aspects of life/society. The intent of the Olympic Games was to get people together peacefully and wonder of what improvements are possible in the future. The Games have it's place, even in changing times.
When I started teaching technology classes in the 80's, I encouraged students to visualize the future of sports and sports entertainement. We talked about 3D Holographic projectors that would allow you to "EXPERIENCE" vs observe. I want to believe I was there via sight, sound, smell etc... and I wanted to "feel" the experience. I would never be able to attend Zurich, Olympics etc... otherwise. BRING THE MEETS TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!! Provide a great virtual experience if they can't get there in person. Not only in location, but in time!!! I want to Experience Berlin & Jesse Owens and hear what people were saying as it happened. I want to EXPERIENCE Kathy Freeman taking that women's 400 in Sydney in front of the home crowd and feel what it meant to them!!! Bring me the next great showdown in the Shot Put, mens or womens, that comes down to the last attempt of the competition for the win. But I want to be ringside and feel the sun and the pressure of the EXPERIENCE!!! TOTAL RECALL if you will.
Becasue that hasn't happened yet, I have had the good fortune and pleasure of being on location for a lot of great competitions. Sometimes the environment was electric and others very dissapointing that only a few people were in attendance to see national and world records broken. But my personal interest that's foundation was the seeds planted by good youth coaches has allowed me to pursue having those experiences the best way I know how. All I can do is pay it forward.
Yes, the sport can still improve it's format and delivery but the value of history and evolution cannot be changed. It's becoming easier for society to just make up their own realities and forget what ingredients are imperative to even have the opportunity to engage in these kind of discussions. Not what it is, but what it can be. Not worrying about comparing and sometimes losing to other sports in popularity but appreciating and celebrating what it is at the Human Performance level.
Until I get that Total Recall technology, I'm going to continue attending meets, watching YouTube and educating kids. They are the future of the sport.