World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has stressed the importance of resisting political interference in global sports while addressing topics including private equity, FIFA controversy, and Russia's ongoing competition ban.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has called for global sports organizations to maintain strong boundaries against political interference while building necessary working relationships with governments.
Speaking at the European championships in Birmingham, England, the 69-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist addressed questions regarding political turmoil ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Coe emphasized that while delivery of major events relies on government partnerships across departments like defense and security, sporting organizations must remain resilient against outside pressure.
Coe's comments come amid scrutiny over world soccer governing body FIFA, which faced criticism after lifting a red-card suspension for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun following a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Addressing the role of private equity in sport, Coe noted that external funding from private equity and sovereign wealth funds has been present for the last decade. He confirmed that individual athletics federations are currently discussing partnerships with external revenue sources ahead of World Athletics' own broadcast and sponsorship deals expiring in 2029, provided proper governance and consultation are maintained.
Coe also confirmed he will personally attend the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to defend World Athletics' continued ban on Russian athletes. Although the International Olympic Committee lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in July, World Athletics is maintaining the sanctions it imposed following the invasion of Ukraine over four years ago, citing the integrity of competition and the primacy of international federations to set eligibility rules.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.