Michael Johnson has gone into the thinking box and through a series of messages on Twitter he has presented ideas about how the sport should be promoted. The American believes that athletics is in a critical phase, and says that it is necessary to think anew in order to attract fans and increase the popularity of the sport. Some of the proposals from the 55-year-old are both radical and controversial: Just include exercises that can be broadcast on TV from start to finish in one stretch. This means sprint exercises, middle and long-distance races and relays. Technical exercises such as pole vault, long jump, hammer throw etc. will only be included in the vote if they are done in a new format and can be completed in a maximum of 15 minutes. Johnson believes that most people do not like the variety in athletics, and that especially the technical exercises are difficult to broadcast and market. EC BRONZE: Pål Haugen Lillefosse is strongly at odds with Johnson Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB – I think many in the sport are reluctant to acknowledge that technical exercises are a problem, writes Johnson, who has four Olympic golds and eight World Cup golds on the merit list. Some support his ideas, while others rage against the proposal. – It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve heard, says pole vaulter Pål Haugen Lillefosse to news. – It’s completely nonsense. He says that Johnson is usually a man he looks up to, but that these proposals shake him. – Then you take half a sport away. I have not read this here before now, but it is quite crazy to say. You destroy the whole of athletics by removing it, he believes. Lillefosse is supported by long jumper Ingar Bratseth-Kiplesund, who would also be hit if Johnson had his way. – It’s completely nonsense, says the trønder. FLY FAR: Kiplesund recently set a Norwegian record for length with 8.21 metres. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB Lillefosse points out that the highest ranked athlete in the world, Armand Duplantis, would have disappeared if Johnson’s changes had been introduced. – If you had cut Ronaldo from football, it would have done something to the whole sport, he compares. Kiplesund mentions the iconic world record of Bob Beamon from the Olympics in Mexico as a moment that would never have happened without the length of the program. – I think there are too many people who think too complicated about athletics as a product. Those who are interested in athletics are interested in athletics as the sport is originally, he says. HISTORICAL: Beamon jumped 8.90 metres, 55 centimeters short of the previous world record. It stood for a full 23 years. Photo: AP Warholm on the Johnson performance Johnson emphasizes that he loves athletics, and that he only wishes that more hard-working athletes could make a living from the sport and get the respect they deserve. – Many athletes struggle to exercise enough, their mental health is affected, and even the best do not exercise enough compared to less successful athletes from other sports. I don’t just point to problems, I try to find solutions, Johnson defends himself on Twitter. HISTORICAL: Here, Warholm has just set a world record in the 400 meter hurdles. Photo: LUCY NICHOLSON / Reuters Karsten Warholm started his career as an all-rounder and has been to most of the practices that athletics has to offer. He has learned that opinions are strong about how sport should be promoted for the future, but that he struggles to see the matter from the point of view of others. – I am an athletics fan, I like athletics and watch all athletics. I think the Diamond League matches are great entertainment, and I really enjoy technical exercises. For me, it will be very difficult to say that one should do it that way, because I really appreciate the way it is now, says the athletics star to news. Warholm has had athletics at his own pace in Ulsteinvik and says that there is almost nothing the public likes better. Sunnmøringen is open to the fact that athletics must keep up with the times, but it must be done in the right way. – You cannot force people to like athletics. It is a form of competition that has existed since almost forever. It is timeless in its simplicity. Then you can look at the format and adapt it, but you can’t take it to the point where you shoot bows and arrows at those who run the 400 meter hurdles, because it should be exciting for those who like bows and arrows. We must build around what exists, believes the Olympic champion.
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