World Athletics publishes 2019 annual report
Governing body World Athletics has published its 2019 annual report, recapping a year in which, as the organisation’s president Sebastian Coe said, “we hadn’t yet heard of Covid-19 or witnessed the devastating impact it would have on all our lives, and of course our sport”.
Highlights of the report, which can be read here, include an increase in revenue of 13% and a drop of 5.5% for spending, in the year ending December 31, 2019. During that time, 80% of income spent went to athletes through events, development and integrity programmes. New partnerships were signed and the group made investments in governance reforms and the integrity of the sport.
In the report’s opening message, Mr Coe said the 2019 appointment CEO Jon Ridgeo “has seen a renewed and successful drive on the revenue front and a robust approach to reviewing processes and priorities across the business to ensure the organisation lives within its means and is able to cut costs to meet the changing environment we all find ourselves in.”
He also discussed the impact of having to postpone many key events, including World Athletics Series events in 2020 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
“These 2019 consolidated financial accounts come at the end of a tough and turbulent four years for our sport,” he wrote. “But if the last four years have been a time for change, the next four years will be a time to build our sport and our reputation as the No.1 Olympic sport from the ground up.
Image: From the World Athletics 2019 annual report.
