Monte Carlo: IAAF president Lamine Diack said on Sunday he did not think athletics would soon join soccer in holding its top championship in Africa.
"It is still but a dream. It is not for tomorrow," Diack told a news conference when asked if the governing body (IAAF) had plans for its world outdoor athletics championships or even a one-day Diamond League meeting on the continent.
"Hopefully the opportunity will crop up," Diack added.
The soccer World Cup will be staged in the continent for the first time when it takes place in South Africa next year.
The IAAF hopes to bring more international exposure to its sport through the new Diamond League, which launches in 2010.Meetings are scheduled in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States, but none in Africa or South America where the 2016 Olympics have been awarded to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
World athletes of the year Usain Bolt and Sanya Richards said they hoped that would change for Africa."I have a big fan base in Africa," said Bolt, who recently returned from his first trip there, "and it is always good to feel that your fans know you appreciate them and come and perform for them."
Bureau Report
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.