Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 12, 1993 TAG: 9308120023
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: STUTTGART, GERMANY LENGTH: Short
The change, proposed by USA Track and Field, was approved by the full congress of the International Amateur Athletic Federation. The move further belies any notion that track and field is strictly an amateur sport, reflecting the changes of the past two decades.
"People are aware of reality," said Istvan Gyulai, the IAAF's general secretary. "It would not be very wise to pretend that the old system was working. This new system is a step toward professionalism."
Under the previous system adopted by the IAAF in 1982, money from endorsements, sponsorships and other sources would go into an athlete's trust fund. Athletes would apply to their national federations to gain access to the funds to pay their expenses. Many federations, however, have largely ignored or circumvented the system.
Under the new procedures, federations can provide athletes with direct-paying documents or direct-payment cards allowing them to receive the money themselves. Otherwise, the money can be paid to the federation or the athlete's agent.
Track and field athletes already collect considerable prize, appearance and endorsement money.
But the sport is not yet considered completely professional because it refuses to pay prize money at the Olympics and at national and world championships.
by CNB