The track and field industry has often tackled the concerns of media visibility and audience reach over the years. From awareness-raising championship events to gender equity campaigns, the World Athletics has constantly risen to introduce newer formats and factors, in hopes of attracting a drifting crowd. This time around, the transformation has reached the long jump field and Olympian Ivana Španović doesn’t seem too happy.

The World Athletics recently introduced a trial of a new format involving fouls in the competitions. While numerous spectators put forth criticism, 4-time Olympian, Ivana Španović rose to present an athlete’s view, widely highlighting the authenticity of the sport and the decision.

The Olympian presents a collective perspective

Ivana Španović, the two-time European champion in the long jump, recently took to her Instagram stories to address the World Athletics’ newer decision. The Olympian’s major concern emphasized the decision-making resting in the hands of authorities not involved as athletes. “The biggest problem is that people who change the rules of this sport are precisely the people who have never had any contact with the sport,” she writes. Španović, who is the 2023 World Champion, voiced that the views of athletes who make the sports happen, who hold views rightful to the executions, aren’t respected.

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“Huge sums of money are spent to try to attract attention to sport while ignoring everything on which it is based. I believe that the focus on sponsorships and TV broadcasts should not come at the expense of the sport’s integrity,” the Olympian further added. Ivana Španović pointed out that what needs attention is essential to the sports and athletes alike.

The slippery boards, the determination of the last contact, or the number of attempts, framed the Olympian’s list of concerns. Španović’s further view involved reaching the audience on a path carrying authenticity. ‘Educating the public about the sports’ intricacies and beauty,’ is what the champion believes authorities should focus on. However, for now, World Athletics is hoping to amp up the entertainment factor with the arriving Olympics.

 New trial format for long jump

The World Championships in Budapest last year witnessed a third of its jumps recorded as no-jumps. Mindful of the statistics, the World Athletics CEO stated that it was diminishing the entertainment of the event. Thus, introducing a ‘reduced-foul’ format.

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According to the introduction, the new format will have all jumps legalized as long as the athletes take off from a new “jump zone.” CEO Jon Ridgeon believes that the measure would ‘add drama’ to the competitions, further deviating from the Olympian’s view. However, the format will remain in trial for the next few years and the global introduction may not happen until 2026.

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