Athletics

London agency Fifty Digital has been appointed to lead the digital and social media output of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The win will see the Soho-based agency help activate the IAAF’s social channels, engage with the worldwide athletics community and drive digital growth for the international governing body of the sport.

CSM Active executive chairman Jon Ridgeon has been appointed as the new CEO of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The two-time British Olympian, a former sprint hurdles world medalist, will take up his new position at the Monaco-based body in March.

Ridgeon, 51, who has headed up the active lifestyle division of CSM Sport and Entertainment for the past two years, will replace Frenchman Olivier Gers in the role.

Triple European sprint champion Dina Asher-Smith has thrown her weight behind England Athletics’ new #gocoach campaign, which is aiming to attract 10,000 new coaches to the sport by 2020.

The star, who ends 2018 as the joint-fastest woman in the world, has been coached since the age of nine by John Blackie at Blackheath & Bromley Harriers Athletics Club.

SPAR has teamed up with European sprint champion Dina Asher-Smith, as part of a community-focussed activation of its British Athletics partnership.

The convenience store brand’s People’s Podium campaign is designed to recognise and reward individuals supporting community sport. 

Triple Berlin 2018 gold-medallist Asher-Smith was on-hand to present winner Zahra Butt with her award at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham. 

Double Olympic champion Daley Thompson has celebrated his 60th birthday by opening a pop-up gym in London with Worldwide Olympic Partner Bridgestone.

The decathlete, a 1980s icon, teamed up with the global tyre brand as part of a campaign to encourage people to keep moving and chasing their dreams, whatever their age.

European Athletics has agreed a new deal with its long-time worldwide media rights partner, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The agreement will extend a relationship which began in 1981 to 2027, reflecting the continental rightsholder’s commitment to free-to-air coverage of its properties.

Major events covered by the extended contract are the Paris 2020 European Athletics Championships and the subsequent three editions of the event – including those in 2022 and 2026 which will form part of a multi-sport championships.

SPAR International has been announced as an Official Partner of the Glasgow 2018 European Championships.

The independent retail group becomes the exclusive cross-Championships sponsor of the inaugural multisport event, which will see European Championships in seven sports staged across Glasgow and its partner city, Berlin, Germany, in August.

Athletics World Cup Ltd has appointed Sky Sports as host broadcaster of the Athletics World Cup, to be hosted at the London Stadium on 14th and 15th July.

The Athletics World Cup features the world’s top eight athletics nations - USA, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Poland, China, Germany, France, Jamaica and South Africa - and sees all track events up to and including the 1500m take place alongside all field events.

The competition comprises two evenings of straight-final action, with one nation lifting the Athletics World Cup ‘Platinum Trophy’.

British Athletics has extended its partnership with Müller to additionally cover the British Athletics Championships through to 2019.

Müller is already the official supporter of the British Athletics team and official milk, milk drink, yogurt and spreadable of British Athletics through to 2019. The partnership with the British Athletics Championships sees the dairy company serve as title partner to three of British Athletics’ summer events including the Müller Anniversary Games and Müller Grand Prix Birmingham. 

A new Athletics World Cup will take place in London this summer, with eight top nations competing, after British Athletics confirmed details of the competition, scheduled for 14th and 15th July.

Great Britain will be joined by the United States, South Africa, Poland, France, China, Germany and Jamaica, with one male and one female athlete from each nation competing in all field and track events up to 1500m.

Just one man and one women from each nation will be selected in each event.