Sebastian Coe

Sebastian Coe, the man who delivered last year's resoundingly successful Olympic Games to London, is said to be the most likely successor to retiring International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Lamine Diack.

Diack, who turned 80 in June, confirmed that he will be relinquishing the post he has held since November 1999, and would be making his own recommendations as far as his successor is concerned.

"In Beijing, I will give the flag to someone else," said Diack to the Telegraph, in reference to the 2015 IAAF Congress. "I will be 82 in 2015. There is no way that I will continue. No chance. I dream of having a wonderful rocking chair and writing two or three books."

Meanwhile, Coe, has been quite open about his ambitions to lead the world's governing body for athletics, a goal that the British Olympic Association chairman and two-time Olympic 1500m champion is likely sharing with current IAAF vice-president and pole vault legend Sergey Bubka.

showdown

Bubka said in a recent interview that he also has his eyes on the International Olympic Association presidency, but Diack is nonetheless trying to avoid a showdown between the two, asking Council members that his choice of who takes over the reins from him be respected. There has never been a contested election for the IAAF presidency.

"I will say who must be my successor and the reason why," Diack noted.

"Then the house can decide whether they want to follow or not. If they say yes, then OK. If not, I will organise a fair competition, but expecting the one I believe to be the best will win."

legacy

Diack and Coe have lobbied vigorously to ensure that the athletic track was kept in the Olympic Stadium beyond last year's showpiece event, and the IAAF boss is sure that the legacy will help the sport to thrive.

"This country has done a lot for our sport. In 2005, I told Seb his job was to make a successful Games and it was wonderful to celebrate this anniversary occasion and find the same atmosphere that we had during the Olympics," said Diack, during the recently concluded Sainsbury's Anniversary Games IAAF Diamond League meet, which was staged to mark the anniversary of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games.