Sir Brendan Foster supports Lord Coe for IOC presidency

The Great North Run, founded by Sir Brendan Foster, is set to break its own record with 60,000 participants, reflecting a growing trend towards healthier lifestyles among younger generations. This surge in interest is attributed to the recent success of athletes like Keely Hodgkinson, who won gold in the women's 800m at the Olympic Games. Foster noted that the event has seen a significant increase in entries, with 10,000 applications received within the first two hours of opening the ballot for next year's race. Foster expressed optimism about the future of British athletics, suggesting that the sport is experiencing a renaissance after years of negative perceptions. He credited the new credibility brought to the global governing body by Lord Coe, the president of World Athletics. Foster believes that Coe's leadership has been pivotal in restoring trust and integrity to athletics, which had suffered from corruption in the past. As the Great North Run approaches, Foster highlighted the cultural shift towards fitness, noting the rise in popularity of non-alcoholic beverages and gym attendance among youth. This change in lifestyle is seen as a contributing factor to the increasing number of participants in running events. Foster also endorsed Lord Coe as a candidate to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee, emphasizing that Coe's election would further enhance the sport's reputation and influence on a global scale. He believes that Coe's continued involvement in athletics would be beneficial, given the positive changes he has already implemented.