Posted: January 10, 2005

Athletics: IAAF To Assist In Tsunami Relief

By Bob Ramsak, Track Profile

(c) 2004 Track Profile all rights reserved TrackProfile.com

Contributing to international efforts to assist the devastated Indian Ocean region in the wake of last month's tsunami, the IAAF will finance the reconstruction of a two-story school building in Sri Lanka, track & field's international governing body announced today.

The reconstruction project came at the suggestion of Sunil Jayaweera, the President of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka, after IAAF President Lamine Diack expressed the governing body's willingness to help with reconstruction efforts.

The IAAF has also contacted all other member federations in affected areas, including India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Somalia, Thailand and Seychelles, asking for specific proposals as to how the organization can best help. The IAAF will also be directly involved in all International Olympic Committee initiatives to aid the recovery and reconstruction of the countries affected by the natural disaster.

The Dec. 26 earthquake and subsequent tsunami has claimed at least 156,000 lives in the region.

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