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Wednesday January 31, 5:10 PMDe Vos swaps rugby ball for running shoesLONDON (Reuters) - The man who helped rugby's Sale Sharks become champions has been handed the task of taking British athletics out of the doldrums in time for the 2012 London Olympics.Niels de Vos will take over as chief executive of UK Athletics in May, replacing former 5,000 metres world record holder David Moorcroft, who announced his resignation last August and leaves the post this week. Like chairman Ed Warner, who was appointed earlier this month, De Vos, 39, comes from a business background, but is not concerned about his lack of experience in the sport. "But for a lack of talent and dedication I might have made it as an athlete but it's remained my passion ever since and will remain my passion long into the future," he told a news conference. "A fresh pair of eyes can often bring a new perspective and I think (I have) a history of having some quite creative ideas about the way to move organisations on," added De Vos, who was commercial director of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. British athletics has been in a state of decline for several years. Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe was Britain's only winner at the 2005 world championships and the team took just one gold medal -- the men's 100 metres relay -- at last year's Europeans, their lowest total for 20 years. Former world 110 metres hurdles champion Colin Jackson said recently it would take a miracle for a Briton to win gold at the 2012 Games. While De Vos, who in four years put Sale Sharks in profit off the field and watched them become English champions on it, does not see himself as a miracle worker, he was confident Britain had the talent and commitment to return to the glory days when their athletes were among the best in the world. "Yes we want to get back to the status we once enjoyed and there's a whole body of people and some very dedicated and talented young athletes who want to be part of that revival," said De Vos, who added that he expected his performance to be judged by the number of gold medals won. Pointing to the success at last year's world junior championships, where Britain won five medals, one gold, UK Athletics chairman Warner said: "We have a young squad right now. Our prospects spread out beyond Beijing (Olympics in 2008) and what we're looking for from this summer, through next summer and beyond is progress for our youngsters. "If we can get them on the right pathway, nurture them en route and ensure they reach the key championships fit at the start line -- and we've got a woeful record in that regard -- then we'll do well." |
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