Iaaf for media in athletics reporting
World athletics mother body, International Association of Athletics Federation (Iaaf), has made a commitment to train sports reporters across the world in the build-up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Iaaf deputy director of the communication department, Anna Legnani, announced the Road to Rio project in her presentation to sports media at the ongoing 77th International Sports Press Association (Aips) congress in Azerbaijan capital, Baku.
“The best way to promote athletics in the media is through the athletes. The Road to Rio will provide the framework for a series of coordinated actions to be implemented,” Legnani explained, adding that athletics is the queen of the Olympic Games.
The initiative is called the Media Development Programme and will involve journalists, federations such as the Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM), athletes and Iaaf.
Legnani, however, stressed that priority for the training will be in central and southern America as the Olympic Games’ host regions.
“Athletics is difficult to cover and it is important to help journalists with skills. The Iaaf has a three-year project to help to develop athletics in the media through workshops and seminars. Various existing and successful tools will be used. There is keen demand from athletics journalists to have the opportunity to further their skills and increase capabilities to provide good coverage,” she said.
