Battle of heavyweights as Coe rolls out backers for IAAF presidency bid

the year.

Made by one of the UK's leading independent sports producers, Coe's film unveils what can only be described as heavyweight endorsement. Supporters range from New Zealand's 19-stone Olympic, World, and Commonwealth shot-putt champion Valerie Adams to Britain's 12st 7lb Prime Minister David Cameron.

The three-minute film also features Haile Gebrselassie, David Rudisha, Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Yelena Isinbayeva. All are backing Coe. Gebrselassie retired this year having set more endurance records than any athlete in history, but fell short of Bubka's 35 in the pole vault, achieved by the simple expedient of raising the bar by one lucrative centimetre at

a time.

Rudisha holds the Olympic title and world best at 800m which Coe once owned, Ennis-Hill is Britain's iconic 2012 Olympic heptathlon champion, now fighting her way back after the birth of her first child, and Isinbayeva, the women's pole vault world record-holder, is also now a mum.

Isinbayeva has 15 world records to her name and once professed a desire to match Bubka's record haul. The Russian quit her long-term coach after eight years to train at Bubka's club in Donetsk amid allegations of romantic involvement, but these were soon silenced when she returned to her former mentor.

There is no doubt who she supports now and she explained why she is backing Coe: "He understands the need to empower the federations to allow more athletes globally to fulfil their potential," she says. "I think he can do a lot because he is very smart, he is intelligent and has a lot of connections."

Cameron adds: "If you think of what Seb has done for Britain and for sport, just imagine what he could do for athletics across the world. That's why I wish him the very best as he goes for gold yet again."

However, Coe cannot afford to under-estimate Bubka whose manifesto, "Taking athletics to new heights" will resonate with Coe's own followers, for the detail could have been pinched directly from him. Coe's manifesto was announced months before that of his rival which runs to 31 pages with significantly more detail.

Both men pledge sweeping reform. Both focus on anti-doping, reorganisation of the competitive calendar, greater appeal to youth, greater revenue provision, and competitions in public places, like the Manchester Street Games.

The pair are rivals to succeed Lamine Diack at next month's election in Beijing, and given recent history of manipulation of sporting votes - FIFA presidency, World Cup - it has been no great surprise to hear whispered allegations of lobbying, though these in no way implicate anyone personally.

An IAAF spokesman answered with an unequivocal "no" when we asked whether any delegate had reported any impropriety around the election, stating any complaint, "would be made to the IAAF's independent ethics commission which has a specific section in its code".

Bubka will command strong support in Eastern Europe, and possibly Africa. And he has a sporting giant in his corner, the former world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, now mayor of Kiev. Coe, meanwhile, has enlisted a heavyweight spin doctor to promote his campaign (www.sebcoe2015.org). Mike Lee was a UEFA spokesman before forming his own company, Vero Communications. They were involved in the London 2012 campaign, successfully promoted rugby sevens' Olympic inclusion, and controversially helped Qatar win the 2022 football World Cup.

Other successes included championing Rio de Janeiro for next year's Olympics, Pyeonchang as the 2018 Winter Olympic venue, and Buenos Aires for the 2018 Youth Olympics. Lee's company also ensured the change of regime that saw Brian Cookson elected president of the International Cycling Union.

"For as long as I can remember, athletics has been at the centre of my life," Coe said. "It is the reason I care so much about athletes of the past, present, and the future and it is why I am running for the position. To have the support of such incredible and well-respected athletes really means a great deal to me. With just six weeks to go until the IAAF election, I am continuing to speak to member associations across the world about their priorities for our sport. I am more convinced than ever that we are on the verge of a new golden era for athletics if we embrace the opportunities together, and not shy away from embracing change where needed."

There is no question that the landscape of the sport needs changing. Coe ensured London 2012 delivered the best-watched track and field Games ever. IAAF officials "were like children on the first day of snow" as Coe described their joy at seeing the packed 2012 arena at the morning session on the opening day of athletics.

They know Coe can deliver. They also know Bubka blotted his copybook by entering the Olympic presidential race, opposing the IAAF's own preferred candidate, Thomas Bach. Bubka got just four votes. It will be a tighter race this time.