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Tobi Amusan, Alison Dos Santos headline World Athletics climate change initiative
World Athletics (WA) announced the inaugural group of ‘Champions for a Better World’ on Thursday. Nine athletes, including three runners and six field athletes representing the six continental areas will lend their voices toward advocating for sustainable practices in sport and encourage other athletes to take a more active role in addressing environmental concerns. The athletes have been recruited to support WA’s efforts to reduce the sport’s environmental impact in alignment with the World Athletics Sustainability Strategy.
The Champions for a Better World group is announced as world leaders gather at the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference, and alongside new data from a survey carried out at four different WA championship events in 2022, with 737 athletes across 122 countries giving responses.
More than 76 per cent of athletes are seriously concerned or very concerned about climate change, with over 66 per cent feeling impacted directly by its effects. Seven in ten athletes believe climate change has already impacted athletics directly, and 90 per cent said that WA has a role to play in addressing sustainability in the sport.
“It’s clear that an overwhelming majority of our athletes are very concerned about the impacts that climate change is having on their lives and on our sport,” said WA president Seb Coe. “It’s critical for us to act on those concerns, to put practical applications in place where we can, and to drive the sport forward with the advocacy and the high-profile voices that athletes can bring.”
Brazil’s 400m hurdle world champion Alison Dos Santos shared that he believes athletes have a platform to raise awareness: “As athletes, we have the important mission of raising awareness about the need to take care of the environment, both at social and economic level. Being able to influence others is very gratifying to me. I am very happy and enthusiastic about embracing this challenge.”
2022 Champions for a Better World
Track athletes
Tobi Amusan (NIG)100m hurdles world record holder, 2022 world champion
Ajla Del Ponte (SWI)sprints, 2021 European indoor 60m champion, 2022 Olympic 100m finalist
Alison Dos Santos (BRA)400m hurdles, 2022 world champion, 2021 Olympic bronze medalist
Field athletes
Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS)javelin, 2019 and 2022 world champion
Sam Mattis (USA)discus, 2021 Olympic and 2022 World Championships finalist
Eliza McCartney (NZL)pole vault, 2016 Olympic bronze medallist
Ernest John Obiena (PHL)pole vault, 2022 world bronze medalist
Elena Vallortigara (ITA)high jump, 2022 world bronze medalist
Hugues Fabrice Zango (BFA)triple jump, world indoor record-holder, 2022 world silver medallist, 2021 Olympic bronze medalist
Video messages from each athlete will be shared on WA social media channels over the next two weeks.
(11/03/2022) Views: 1,035 ⚡AMPby Keeley Milne
