2 April 2008

UK Athletics has teamed up with the IAAF to announce the launch of a new campaign to promote athletics as part of broader plans to take the premier Olympic sport to a wider audience. ‘SPIKES’ an exciting new athletics magazine and website, which will have a strong contemporary voice and will celebrate the inherent drama and human stories of the sport, will be launched in July and will appeal to athletics fans old and new.

The news of this unique collaboration between the IAAF and a member federation was announced on day two of the IAAF Council Meeting in London.

IAAF President Lamine Diack said: “We are always looking at ways to promote the sport of athletics and further increase participation at all levels. As the Olympic Games in Beijing approaches, the focus will increasingly be on athletics, as the number one Olympic sport. SPIKES will provide a new platform for news, and discussion and will give readers a real insight into athletics. It will celebrate the achievements of athletics heroes around the world. We hope it will serve as an inspiration to everyone, old and young, to encourage a new generation of passionate athletics fans and participants and we look forward to working closely with UK Athletics to achieve our goals.”

Ed Warner, Chairman of UK Athletics, added: “We are delighted to be invited to enter this partnership with the IAAF to produce an innovative new magazine and website. It will enable the public to get up close and personal with the world of athletics, and will give the reader a real insight into the sport and what it takes to reach the top. We will not shy away from issues in the sport and I hope we can bring athletics to a whole new audience, whilst giving our passionate fan-base something fresh.”  

The magazine and website will be produced by Haymarket and will be launched in July.