BOSTON - The Association of Athletics Managers (AAM) representing most of the world’s top athletes completed their three day Annual Meeting in Boston (Nov 9-11). Along with representatives from Samsung Diamond League Organizers (DL) and world’s major shoe companies they agreed to continue their strong relationship by forming a working group which will meet several times throughout the year, building common platforms to market their athletes in the world’s largest athletics meetings.
AAM was pleased to again welcome IAAF Vice-President Bob Hersh, along with Special Advisor to IAAF President, Sandro Giovannelli. They discussed many important topics from the 2010 season with a view from the world governing body’s perspective. AAM welcomed representatives of the Samsung Diamond League, board members Bob Hersh, Patrick Magyar (Zurich) and Rajne Soderberg (Stockholm). Also present were Diamond League organizers from London, Rome, Oslo, Lausanne, New York and Shanghai. Managers praised the inaugural year of the new series on behalf of their athletes. In the ongoing discussions with DL meeting organizers the AAM proposed changes related mainly to the prize money structure, the points scoring and qualifications for the final. These proposals will be taken to the DL General Assembly in November in Monte Carlo.
The AAM, Diamond League and represented shoe companies (adidas, Nike, Reebok, Saucony) expressed their concerns regarding the future television global coverage of our sport. Continuing discussion regarding new IAAF Athlete Representatives guidelines took place between AAM and IAAF Vice-President Bob Hersh. AAM members are pleased that the IAAF agreed to postpone the new system of agent registration and licensing until all related parties will be in agreement. The Association of Athletics Managers (AAM) welcomed eight new members and is currently made up of a group of 40 leading managers representing many of the top stars in athletics, including Usain Bolt, Yelena Isinbayeva, Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell, Kenenisa Bekele, David Rudisha, David Oliver, Ivan Ukhov, Andreas Thorkildsen and Blanka Vlasic. The next General Assembly of the AAM will take place in Amsterdam, November 9-11, 2011.