IAAF President Lamine Diack delivers his address at the Opening Ceremony for the 37th IAAF Congress in Berlin (© Getty Images)
IAAF President Lamine Diack officially opened the 47th IAAF Congress at its opening gala on Tuesday evening, welcoming delegates from more than 200 of the IAAF's 213 Member Federations.
Berlin will host 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics (15 to 23 August 2009), for which 202 Member Federations have entered athletes to compete.
“Alongside the great pride I feel as the global athletics family comes together, I also share a sense of satisfaction with each of you,” Diack said, addressing more than 600 guests gathered at the German capital’s Tempodrom arena.
“Satisfaction at seeing our Congress take place in the iconic city of Berlin – a city that stands as both a witness to and a symbol of not only the vicissitudes and tragedies of recent history but also of the great social changes that have been brought about in modern age.”
“That our Congress and the World Championships in Athletics are being held in Berlin marks the coming together of two highly significant aims. That of the city of Berlin, led by its mayor, Klaus Wovereit, in endeavouring to host a major international competition, and that of the IAAF, in bringing its flagship competition to a country that is renowned for its love and understanding of our sport, as well as its huge economic potential.”
Dr. Christoph Bergner, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, delivered the official welcome on behalf of the German government, and Clemens Prokop, President of the German Athletics Federation DLV, and co-president of Berlin 2009, delivered the official welcome from the local organizing committee.
Highlighting the evening was the presentation of The IAAF's Plaque of Merit to six distinguished members of the global athletics family who have made enormous career long contributions to the success and the development of our sport. The recipients, listed in alphabetical order according to their Area Association –
Africa - Younes Chetali from Tunisia
Asia - Soud Hamed S. Al-Rawahi from Oman
Europe - Jorge Salcedo from Portugal
NACAC - Evie Dennis from the USA
Oceania - Ann Tierney from the Cook Island (award was accepted on her behalf by Ina Masters
South America - Fausto Mendoza Cajas of Ecuador
(See photos of all recipients at right in 'related content')
The Opening Ceremony, which was coordinated by IAAF Master of Ceremonies Chris Turner of the Communications Dept, also featured a fabulous performance by The Berlin Dancers, whose entertaining presentation featured a lavish history of the German capital told through a series of dance styles popularised and immortalised over the past century.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF