The IAU Africa meeting held during the U18 and U20 Championships, Abeokuta, Nigeria was a remarkable event, bringing together representatives from 24 federations, including both current and prospective IAU members. This gathering provided an excellent opportunity to discuss regional initiatives and outline the next steps for the Federation.
Among the attendees were three members of the IAU Executive Council: Nadeem Khan, the IAU President, Solomon Ogba, the IAU Africa Representative and Hilmy Aboud Said, the IAU Director. Their presence highlighted the meeting's significance in strengthening relationships and promoting the sport at various levels.
The discussions during the meeting centered around several key topics, including:
- Strategies for further development in the region, focusing on both events and increasing membership.
- Future initiatives and upcoming championships.
- Growth and development through close collaboration with federations.
- Participation in forthcoming championships.
- Technical training.
- Sharing best practices among federations.
- Addressing the unique challenges faced by federations across Africa.
Adding to the meeting's importance, Adille Sumariwale, the Vice President of World Athletics, was also present. Vice President Sumariwale took the opportunity to provide updates on the upcoming 50km World Championships being held in India. This will be the first of three editions that India will be hosting.
The group was unanimous in expressing that this is a great time to launch ultrarunning into a new era on the continent.
Jacek Bedkowski
IAU Director of Communication
