World Athletics has announced six finalists that have been nominated for the Member Federations Award ahead of next month’s World Athletics Awards 2023.
The Member Federations Award recognises a Member Federation that has distinguished itself in its accomplishments throughout the year and, as a result, positively contributed to the growth and profile of the sport. The shortlisted federations were nominated by each of the six area associations.
The winner will be announced on World Athletics’ platforms in early December, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023.
The six nominees, listed alphabetically, are:
Australia (Athletics Australia, Oceania)
Australia started 2023 by hosting the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst in February, claiming a medal in the mixed relay. Oceania’s first World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting followed a few days later as the inaugural edition of the Maurie Plant Meeting, formerly the Melbourne Track Classic, took place.
Australia had its best World Championships in Budapest, claiming six medals including one gold by Nina Kennedy in the pole vault. A number of Australian and Oceania records were set throughout the year, including a national discus mark of 68.43m by Matt Denny at the Wanda Diamond League Final.
Botswana (Botswana Athletics Association, Africa)
The Botswana Athletics Association’s work with athletes including sprinter Letsile Tebogo showed in 2023 as the 20-year-old – a two-time world U20 100m champion – became a senior world medallist, claiming 100m silver and 200m bronze in Budapest. With his performance, Tebogo became the first African man to claim a 100m medal and the first man from Botswana to win a medal in any event at the World Athletics Championships.
Having trained and developed locally, Tebogo represents a positive role model for aspiring athletes all over the African continent.
Chile (Federacion Atletica de Chile, South America)
In 2023 Chile hosted the Pan American Games as well as five World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger events. The Federacion Atletica de Chile has been able to encourage Chilean athletics with a shared vision for the future – one which respects the autonomy of each region, led by some key figures across the country. Statistics indicate that athletics participation in Chile has doubled, helped by the development of events and the training of new coaches.
The federation has also continued its work on training officials and developing its Kids’ Athletics programme.
Spain (Real Federacion Espanola de Atletismo, Europe)
The federation’s athletes were successful at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, winning five medals. Four of those were gold, with Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez both claiming two titles each, in the 20km and 35km race walk events.
Innovative formats and projects at national and grassroots levels were introduced and there was an increase in membership participation for licensed athletes, business partners and social media. The Real Federacion Espanola de Atletismo has also been working towards key objectives of the World Athletics World Plan, including in safeguarding and gender leadership.
Thailand (Athletic Association of Thailand, Asia)
In 2023 Bangkok was the host city for the 25th Asian Athletics Championships, while the capital also held the Asian Athletics Association’s 50-year celebration.
The federation has helped the Asian Athletics Association to establish its headquarters at Thammasat University in Bangkok, where development activities are held for the whole area, and it is likely to develop into a state-of-the-art facility in the future. A participant in the Kids’ Athletics programme, the Athletic Association of Thailand is also working to develop athletics at grassroots level.
United States (USA Track & Field, NACAC)
In another successful year, US athletes claimed 29 medals at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, topping the medal table and achieving two championship records and a world record. Other leading performances throughout 2023 included a world record by Ryan Crouser in the shot put and 12 national records.
Eugene hosted the Wanda Diamond League Final, while there were World Athletics Continental Tour Gold events in Los Angeles and New York, plus World Indoor Tour meetings in Boston and New York. The federation undertook impactful grassroots programmes, developed pathways for coaches and officials, and continued its work on growing commercial revenue for the sport.
SOURCE: WORLD ATHLETICS
