You can’t keep a good man down. James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa (ASA) as well as Sports and Recreation Manager in the City of Johannesburg and member of the World Plan Implementation Working Group (WPWG), is now a member of council for the International Athletics Foundation (IAF) from 2024 to 2027. What you don’t know about James. A passionate former athlete, James is hands-on in promoting and championing athletic development at local and global level. He is a huge Amakhosi (Kaizer Chiefs) supporter and attends most of the football club’s matches in Joburg.
Before suffering a knee injury that slowed him down, the former Diepkloof, Soweto, resident used to enjoy long distance running.
He was voted ASA president two years ago. He was also the chairperson of the Zone 3 Sports Council and Deputy Chairperson of the Boksburg Sports Council. He also chaired the Central Gauteng Athletics Federation’s Road Running Commission, was the former President of Central Athletics for eight years and chairperson of the Malcolm X Athletics Club for six years from 2004 to 2010.
He’s a human resource management graduate who enjoys books and spending quality time with his family. “I’m a people’s person. I spend a lot of time with anyone anywhere and with friends doing this and that. I also try and give my best time to my family whenever I find that small time away from sport,” says James.
What does the IAF do?
The foundation’s primary mission is to charitably assist World Athletics and its affiliated national governing bodies in perpetuating the development and promotion of athletics worldwide.
Through its support of a variety of programmes and projects including educational, scientific, technical, promotional, and social activities, the foundation strives to aid athletes, administrators, coaches, national athletics federations and others to practice all forms of athletics in the best of conditions.
The number of affiliated federations has grown dramatically from the 17 founding members in 1912 to the current 214.
The foundation’s council consists of 26 elected members who have the powers to approve and review the World Athletics Strategic Plan; adopt, amend and repeal rules and regulations; decide all matters relating to the competition calendar and World Athletics competitions, world records, bidding procedures and selection of host cities; develop policies for training and appointing technical officials; review and monitor the global athletics development programme; appoint Commissions and Working Groups and make recommendations to Congress on membership of various independent panels and bodies of World Athletics.
What are James’ views on his election to world athletics?
“I am thrilled and honoured to be a member of this distinguished council. I will do my best to represent the country in a manner befitting of the trust placed in me.”
The world certainly can’t keep a good man and Jozi’s finest down…
Written by Mahungu Special Writers