HOME > Topics > JAAF and FFA(French Athletics Federation) have signed a partnership agreement to try to raise standards in the build-up to the Rio 2016 Olympics.

TOPIC

JAAF and FFA(French Athletics Federation) have signed a partnership agreement to try to raise standards in the build-up to the Rio 2016 Olympics.

image The agreement was officially signed in Tokyo on May 1st, 2013 by Mr. Yohei Kono, JAAF President and Mr. Pierre Weiss, Vice-President of the FFA.

Under the agreement, the two federations have pledged to share information of the athletics development, organise joint training camps, co-use each training centres and also promote exchanges program for coaches and junior athletes.

ASICS which is an official partner for both federations coordinated the agreement.

As part of the agreement, FFA will be helped to find the venue of pre-training camp for the IAAF Beijing 2015.

"For us, France is a perfect partner as French sprinters excel in 100m and 200m" said JAAF President Kono, a reference French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre's sub 10 seconds of 100m in 2010.

Renaud Lavillenie's victory in the Pole Vault at the London 2012 is something the Japanese would like to learn from. President Kono praised the FFA's "excellent development," citing Lavillenie, who won the Gold at the London 2012.

France finished ninth equal overall in the medals table at the London 2012, including Lavillenie's victory and the Silver won by Mahiedine Benabbad in the 3,000m Steeple Chase, while Japan were 33rd equal, winning only the Bronze by Koji Murofushi in the Men's Hammer Throw.

Mr. Mitsugi Ogata, JAAF Senior Managing Director, said Japan can take the opportunity to learn a lot from FFA after this partner agreement.

"Frankly speaking, Japan's standard is quite low rather than France," he said.

"We will count on French help first of all and eventually catch up with France to establish an equal partnership," he said.

The FFA, meanwhile, is hoping to tap into Japan's experiences and knowledge in Distance Running including Marathon.

"There is a lot to learn from Japanese athletes, especially marathon runners whose levels are extremely high," said FFA Vice-President, Weiss.