<ul><li>Plan was introduced to reduce number of foul jumps</li><li>‘Athletes do not want to embrace it,’ says Jon Ridgeon</li></ul>World Athletics has scrapped plans to introduce a takeoff zone for the long jump rather than the traditional board because of widespread hostility from athletes.Jon Ridgeon, the governing body’s chief executive, said that while the proposals had gone well in trials, “you ultimately do not want to go to war with your most important group of people”. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/03/world-athletics-scraps-landing-zone-idea-to-avoid-all-out-war-with-long-jump-athletes">Continue reading...</a>

قررت الهيئة العالمية لألعاب القوى التخلي عن اقتراح منطقة الإقلاع لمنافسات القفز الطويل، والتي كانت تهدف إلى تقليل القفزات الفاسدة، بسبب المعارضة الكبيرة من الرياضيين. اعترف جون ريدجون، الرئيس التنفيذي للهيئة، أنه على الرغم من نجاح التجارب، فإن الهيئة لا ترغب في خلق صراع مع أصحاب المصلحة الرئيسيين.

World Athletics ha decidido abandonar la propuesta de zona de despegue para los eventos de salto de longitud, que tenía como objetivo minimizar los saltos nulos, debido a la significativa oposición de los atletas. Jon Ridgeon, el CEO de World Athletics, reconoció que, a pesar de los ensayos exitosos, el organismo no quería crear conflictos con sus principales interesados.

World Athletics a décidé d'abandonner la proposition de zone de décollage pour les épreuves de saut en longueur, qui visait à réduire les sauts nuls, en raison d'une forte opposition des athlètes. Jon Ridgeon, le PDG de World Athletics, a reconnu que malgré des essais réussis, l'organe directeur ne souhaitait pas créer de conflit avec ses principales parties prenantes.

World Athletics has decided to abandon the proposed takeoff zone for long jump events, which was intended to minimize foul jumps, due to significant opposition from athletes. Jon Ridgeon, the CEO of World Athletics, acknowledged that despite successful trials, the governing body did not want to create conflict with its key stakeholders.

World Athletics scraps takeoff zone idea to avoid ‘war’ with long jumpers

John Ridgeon believes I was downbeat about state of his sport. He may have a point … so we thrashed out our differencesIt really is quite the scene. Midnight in Tokyo, Usain Bolt is DJing and the launch party for the World Athletics Ultimate Championships is in full swing. And then the World Athletics chief executive, Jon Ridgeon, walks up to me and says: “I read your <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/09/athletics-save-track-and-field-social-media-noah-lyles-i-show-speed-darren-watkins">recent Guardian column</a>, and&nbsp;I thought it was very unfair.”Imagine Gary Lineker going in two-footed, having never picked up a yellow card in his career. This is the track and field equivalent. Ridgeon, a&nbsp;former world silver medallist over the 110m&nbsp;hurdles, is one of the smartest and most reasonable people in sport. He is saying, in a polite way,&nbsp;that he is really rather annoyed. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/02/athletics-joining-sports-goliaths-long-way-to-go">Continue reading...</a>

واجه جون ريدجون، الرئيس التنفيذي لـ World Athletics، الصحفي شون إنجل بشأن عمود حديث اعتبره غير عادل حول حالة ألعاب القوى. حدث اللقاء خلال حفلة إطلاق في طوكيو، حيث أعرب ريدجون عن انزعاجه بطريقة مهذبة، مما يبرز الحوار المستمر حول تحديات الرياضة وإدراك الجمهور.

John Ridgeon, CEO de World Athletics, confrontó al periodista Sean Ingle sobre una reciente columna que consideró injusta respecto al estado del atletismo. El encuentro tuvo lugar durante una fiesta de lanzamiento en Tokio, donde Ridgeon expresó su molestia de manera educada, destacando el diálogo en curso sobre los desafíos del deporte y la percepción pública.

John Ridgeon, PDG de World Athletics, a confronté le journaliste Sean Ingle au sujet d'une récente chronique qu'il a jugée injuste concernant l'état de l'athlétisme. La rencontre a eu lieu lors d'une fête de lancement à Tokyo, où Ridgeon a exprimé son agacement de manière polie, soulignant le dialogue en cours sur les défis du sport et la perception publique.

John Ridgeon, CEO of World Athletics, confronted journalist Sean Ingle about a recent column he deemed unfair regarding the state of athletics. The encounter took place during a launch party in Tokyo, where Ridgeon expressed his annoyance in a polite manner, highlighting the ongoing dialogue about the sport's challenges and public perception.

World Athletics scraps takeoff zone idea to avoid ‘war’ with long jumpers

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