IAAF shortlisted candidates for 2011 World Athlete of the Year Award
Sport’s global governing body, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), panel of 8 athletics experts selected 10 men and 10 women for 2011 World Athlete of the Year Award. These candidates were shortlisted on Monday 03 October.
Among them, four candidates are throwers: discus thrower Robert Harting from Germany, hammer thrower Koji Murofushi from Japan, javelin thrower Maria Abakumova from Russia, and shot putter Valerie Adams from New Zealand.
An email poll involving the World Athletics Family began on October 3 and will remain open till Sunday, October 23. After the voting process, 3 men and 3 women will be selected and announced by the IAAF as suitable candidates for the award.
After selecting 3 each men and women, the Council of the International Athletic Foundation will select one male and one female winner from the finalists on November 12 during the 2011 World Athletics Gala. The announcement will take place live on the stage.
The selected male candidates for the award are: Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt (Jamaica), David Rudisha and Patrick Makau (Kenya), Robert Harting (Germany), Kirani James (Grenada), Mo Farah (Great Britain), Koji Murofushi (Japan), Christian Taylor and Jesse
Williams (USA).
The female candidates for the award are: Maria Abakumova, Anna Chicherova and Tatyana Chernova (Russia), Lashinda Demus and Carmelita Jeter (USA), Valerie Adams (New Zealand), Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya), Amantle Montsho (Botswana), Veronica Campbell Brown
(Jamaica), and Sally Pearson (Australia).
Last year the IAAF Athlete of the Year Award (men) was won by David Rudisha from Kenya and Blanka Vlasic from Croatia won the IAAF Athlete of the Year Award (women).
The IAAF Athlete of the Year Award, is a prize that can be won by any man and woman athlete who participates in events organised by the International Athletic Foundation of the IAAF within the sport of athletics, including track and field, road running,
cross country running and race walking.
The Foundation also provides financial assistance and grants for the athletes’ assistance. These are based on a broad criterion of need, merit and local economic conditions irrespective of national origin, color, creed, race or s*x. The Foundation Council
gives grants on an annual basis.
The Foundation is funded by Compagnie Monegasque de Banque and Mondo and it welcomes support from philanthropic, corporate and private organizations from all over the world.
The announcement of the world athlete of the year award will certainly be a cherished moment as it will not only give a certificate to the best performer of the year, but will also encourage other athletes to do better during the next year.
Moreover, the announcement event will certainly mark a treasured moment not only for the proud winners but also for the athletics spectators.
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