IAAF REAFFIRMS PLEDGE TO BATTLE AIR POLLUTION AND REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE
As people from around the world take time to reflect upon the state of the planet on this World Environment Day , the IAAF is delighted to share this message from running legend Haile Gebrselassie who reminds us of the importance of clean air within athletics and the urgent need to continue the battle to combat air pollution. "Seven million people die due to poor air quality every year," Gebrselassie notes. "Enough is enough." When he became president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation in November 2016, his first action was to move the main national team training base from Addis Ababa to outside the capital. "It is better for their health and their performance," he said. “Millions of people run every day and it is growing. Air quality matters and I am proud that our athletes and our sport are leading an ambitious campaign to tackle this problem. Working with UN Environment on air quality and joining the International Olympic Committee’s ini