Imagine this: Paris, 2024. The City of Light is ablaze with Olympic fervour, and there’s Sebastian Coe, larger than life, buzzing with a new idea that’s as cool as the winter air.
He’s thinking out loud about bundling up cross country in a winter coat and inviting it to the frosty party of the Winter Olympics. Why? Because why should the skiers and skaters have all the fun?
At a buzzing press conference, where the excitement was palpable, Coe, flanked by the top brass of World Athletics, Jon Ridgeon and Ximena Restrepo, was all smiles talking about the universal flavour of athletics.
Medals had already jetted off to corners of the globe from Ecuador to China, showcasing just how diverse this sport is.
“It’s the heart of the Olympics,” Coe remarked, and you could almost hear the collective heartbeat of the global audience tuning in.
Now, Coe’s not just a reminiscer, but when he is, he’s got some golden memories. Speaking of gold, he brought up 1924, right there in Paris, when Paavo Nurmi was grabbing golds like they were going out of fashion.
But Coe’s looking forward, not backwards. He’s picturing a world where runners from climates warm and cold can face off in a snowy setting, levelling the playing field and perhaps giving countries typically left out of the winter loop a shot at glory.
And it’s not just about medals and glory. There’s real money on the line now. Coe announced that for the first time, gold medal winners in athletics would pocket a cool $50,000.
“It’s their moment, and they should reap the rewards,” he stated, making it clear that athletes should get a fair slice of the Olympic pie.
But even as Paris basked in the summer heat, Coe turned the conversation to a colder subject—climate change.
It’s no longer just a future worry; it’s here, affecting how and when athletes train and compete.
Coe is pushing for a rethink of the global athletic schedule to better protect the athletes from the harsh realities of our changing climate.
Looking forward to the games, Coe can’t wait to fill the seats of Stade de France. He reminisced about Tokyo’s quieter games and is geared up for the roaring crowds in Paris.
“There’s nothing like playing to a full house,” he said, excitement clear in his voice about the electric atmosphere that only a passionate crowd can bring.